Great Keppel Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Keppel IslandQueensland |
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Great Keppel Island, 2024
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 Great Keppel Island
Location in Queensland
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| Postcode(s) | 4700 |
| Time zone | UTC+10 (UTC) |
| Location | 15 km (9 mi) from Yeppoon (W) |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Livingstone |
| State electorate(s) | Keppel |
| Federal Division(s) | Capricornia |
Great Keppel Island, known as Wop-Pa by its traditional owners, is a beautiful island located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) off the coast of Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland. This island is the largest of the eighteen islands in the Keppel Group, covering an area of 1308 hectares (about 3232 acres).
Great Keppel Island has a warm, tropical climate. It is famous for its 17 white-sand beaches and amazing coral reefs. These reefs are part of the Great Barrier Reef and have a wide variety of corals, similar to the Whitsunday Islands. The water around the island is clear for most of the year, making it a popular spot for visitors. More than 50,000 people visit the island every year to enjoy its natural beauty.
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About Great Keppel Island
Great Keppel Island is a fantastic place for a holiday. It offers many beautiful beaches and clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The island's coral reefs are home to many colorful fish and other sea creatures. It's a great spot to explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef up close.
Getting There
You can reach Great Keppel Island by ferry. Ferries leave daily from Keppel Bay Marina and Pier One in Rosslyn Bay. There is also a small airport on the island. In the past, larger planes used to land there. Today, it is a private airport, and you need special permission to land.
A Look Back in Time
The islands were named by Captain James Cook in April 1770. He named them after Admiral Augustus Keppel, who was a important naval leader at the time.
Early Inhabitants: The Woppaburra People
For about 10,000 years before Europeans arrived, Great Keppel Island was home to the Woppaburra people. They were the traditional owners of the island. It is believed that 60 to 80 Woppaburra people lived there. They relied on the rich seafood from the surrounding waters. Old shell mounds, called middens, show how much seafood they gathered.
Sadly, by the end of the 19th century, the Woppaburra people faced many challenges. They were eventually forced to leave their traditional lands. The last 18 Woppaburra people were removed from the island in 1902.
European Settlement and Early Uses
The first recorded visit by Europeans was in 1847 by John MacGillivray, a naturalist on HMS Rattlesnake. In 1866, Robert Ross began using the island for farming, mainly raising sheep. William T. Wyndham was the first European to live on the island permanently. He was a stock-keeper and had good relationships with the Woppaburra people. However, he left after seeing how the Woppaburra were treated by others.
After 1903, the island was mostly empty until 1918. Then, Michael and Lizzie O'Neill took over the sheep farming. They built a new home, which is now known as Leeke Homestead. Lizzie O'Neill continued to run the sheep farm by herself for many years. Leeke's Beach and Estuary are named after Lizzie and her second husband, Ralph Leeke.
From Sheep to Tourists
After World War II, Great Keppel Island started to become a popular place for tourists. In 1935, the first two simple huts for visitors were built at Fisherman's Beach. By 1957, Charles Tompson built a house and seven cabins, starting the island's first small resort. This resort was later called "Silver Sands."
In 1967, new owners built a larger building and the first swimming pool. An airstrip was also built to help visitors get to the resort. By 1975, Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) owned the resort. It grew over the next 15 years, able to host 350 visitors and 130 staff. The resort became famous for its fun advertising campaign, "Get Wrecked on Great Keppel," which meant having an amazing time on the island.
Modern Resort Developments
In 1992, Qantas took over the resort and later sold it in 1998. The resort was then managed by companies like Contiki and Mercure. Contiki aimed to make it a popular spot for young travelers, especially high school students during holidays.
In 2006, a company called Tower Holdings bought the resort. They closed it in February 2008 with big plans for a major upgrade. Their plans included a large hotel, many apartments, a marina for boats, a golf course, and a bigger airstrip. These plans were approved by the government after a long environmental study. However, Tower Holdings later put the resort and its leases up for sale in 2018.
In April 2023, the Queensland Government canceled the leases that Tower Holdings held. This decision opened the way for new plans for the island's future.
Protecting the Island's Beauty
Great Keppel Island is an important part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The island has 27 kilometers (17 miles) of beautiful beaches and many coral reefs. These reefs are known for their wide variety of fish and other marine life. The island is also home to special trees like the swamp mahogany. Protecting this natural environment is very important.
Where to Stay and What to Do
While the main resort is currently closed, there are still places to stay on Great Keppel Island. You can find options from tents to cabins and even private beach houses.
Besides relaxing on the beaches, visitors can enjoy many activities. These include snorkeling, swimming, and exploring the island's walking trails. Many tour options are available from Keppel Bay Marina, including full-day cruises and sailing adventures.
More to Explore
