Lizard Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lizard Island National ParkQueensland |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Lizard Island National Park
Location in Queensland
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| Nearest town or city | Cooktown |
| Established | 1939 |
| Area | 9.9 km2 (3.8 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Lizard Island National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of Queensland |
Lizard Island is a special island located on the famous Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. It's about 1624 kilometers (1009 miles) northwest of Brisbane. Lizard Island is part of a small group of islands, including Palfrey Island, and together they form the Lizard Island National Park. This beautiful island is also part of the Cook Shire area.
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How Was Lizard Island Formed?
Lizard Island is made of granite rock and covers about 10 square kilometers (3.9 square miles). There are three smaller islands nearby: Palfrey, South, and Bird. These islands together create the Lizard Island Group. Around them, you'll find a well-developed fringing reef. This reef circles a 10-meter (33-foot) deep area called the Blue Lagoon.
A Look Back in Time: History of Lizard Island
Aboriginal History: Jiigurru, a Sacred Place
For the Dingaal Aboriginal people, Lizard Island was known as Dyiigurra, or Jiigurru. It was a very important and sacred place for them. Young males would go there for special initiation ceremonies. The people also gathered food like shellfish, turtles, dugongs, and fish from the island's waters.
The Dingaal people believed that the Lizard Island group was created during the Dreamtime. They imagined the islands as a stingray, with Lizard Island forming the body and the other smaller islands making up its tail.
European History: Captain Cook and Mary Watson
The name Lizard Island was given by Captain Cook. He sailed past the island on August 12, 1770. He wrote that he saw many lizards, which is why he decided to call it "Lizard Island." Captain Cook even climbed to the highest point on the island to find a safe path through the many reefs. This spot is now known as ‘Cook's Look’.
Later, in the 1860s, fishermen started using the island. They were looking for sea cucumbers, which were popular food in Asia.
In 1879, a brave woman named Mary Watson came to Lizard Island with her husband, Captain Robert Watson, their baby son, and two servants. They fixed up an old cottage left by other fishermen. Captain Watson was a sea cucumber fisherman. One day, while he was away, Aboriginal people from the mainland attacked and killed one of the servants.
Mary Watson was only 21 years old when this happened. She is remembered for her courage. After the attack, she tried to escape to the mainland with her baby and the other Chinese servant. They used a large iron boiling tank, which was normally used for boiling sea cucumbers. Sadly, the tank floated away from the coast. Mary, her baby, and the servant died of thirst nine days later on a waterless island called No 5 Howick Island. Their bodies were found three months later, along with Mary Watson's diary. The State Library of Queensland has two of her diaries, one about her time on Lizard Island and another about her last days.
In 1939, all the islands in the group were officially made a national park. Today, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service manages it. The island is also part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which is looked after by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency. If scientists want to do research in the Lizard Island Group, they need special permission.
Heritage Listings
Lizard Island has some important historical sites. One of them is:
- Lizard Island: Mrs Watson's Cottage (the ruins of the cottage Mary Watson lived in).
Amazing Animals: Lizards!
It's no surprise that the most common lizard you'll find on Lizard Island is the yellow-spotted monitor (Varanus panoptes). These cool reptiles are often seen around the island.
What Happens on Lizard Island Today?
Besides being a national park, Lizard Island has a few other important places.
Lizard Island Research Station
On the western side of Lizard Island, you'll find the research station. It's run by the Australian Museum. This station provides a place for scientists and students to study coral reefs. Since it was set up in 1973, about 1,000 scientific papers have been written based on research done here by experts from Australia and around the world.
Lizard Island Resort
On the northwest side of the island is a very fancy luxury resort. It's currently operated by Delaware North. The resort has 40 villas and is known for being a quiet and private place. Guests can enjoy many water activities, like diving trips to the famous Cod Hole, thanks to the island's amazing location on the Great Barrier Reef.
