Mitchells Island facts for kids
Mitchells Island is the largest of several islands located at the mouth of the Manning River in New South Wales, Australia. This island has a roughly triangular shape and covers an area of about 130 square kilometers (50 square miles). It is surrounded by water on three sides: the main channel of the Manning River to the north, Scotts Creek to the southwest, and the vast Pacific Ocean to the east. The ocean coastline stretches from Old Bar in the south up to Harrington in the north.
The island's height above sea level varies, reaching up to 151 meters (495 feet) at its highest point. Mitchells Island gets its name from Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, who was a Surveyor-General for Australia from 1828 to 1855. A Surveyor-General is a government official responsible for mapping land. Unlike many sandy islands, Mitchells Island and nearby Oxley Island are made of shale, which is a type of rock formed from mud.
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Life on Mitchells Island
Mitchells Island is home to about 300 people who live there permanently. In the past, much of the island was covered by dairy farms, but now only one dairy farm remains. The island is a popular spot for holidays, offering two caravan parks and many homes and units for rent.
Nature and Wildlife
A large part of Mitchells Island is covered by thick rainforest. This forest is a home for many native Australian animals. You might spot koalas, echidnas, wallabies, possums, bandicoots, quolls, and goannas. Many different kinds of birds also live here.
Island Landmarks
The 'Manning Waters' housing area started in 1991 with just two houses. Today, it has grown to include 36 homes. The Mitchell family, who have a long history on the island, act as local guides. They run an information center that helps visitors learn about the area.
The Mitchells family home and information center are located between two important spots. One is the historic St. Marks Church, built in the 1940s. It stands where a large cedar log, washed downriver during floods, once landed. The other is the 'Best View' cemetery, which is on the highest point of the island. From there, you can see beautiful views of the river and the distant mountains.
Manning Point Village
The only village on Mitchells Island is called Manning Point. It is located about 330 kilometers (205 miles) north of Sydney. Besides holiday rentals, Manning Point has a general store, a bowling club, and the two caravan parks. There is also a cafe and a bait shop for fishing. The general store is very important to the community. It also acts as the news agent, the post office, and a place to buy groceries, burgers, and fish and chips.
Beaches and Ocean Access
The Pacific Ocean forms the entire eastern side of Mitchells Island, creating a long sand beach. There are two main ways to get to this beach. The northern access is from Manning Point village. This path is strengthened to allow four-wheel drive vehicles to reach the beach. The southern access is from Beach Road. This is a narrow path that goes over a sand dune. It is important to know that neither of these beaches has lifeguards on patrol.
