Moresby Island (Gulf Islands) facts for kids
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Moresby Island is a small, private island located in British Columbia, Canada. It's part of the Gulf Islands, which are a group of islands found between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Moresby Island sits on the west side of Swanson Channel, just east of the southern part of Salt Spring Island. It's important not to confuse this Moresby Island with another, much larger island of the same name, which is part of the Haida Gwaii islands off British Columbia's northern coast. Today, Moresby Island is privately owned and used for raising beef cattle. It is not open to the public, and only three people live there.
About Moresby Island
Moresby Island reaches a height of 148 meters (about 486 feet) above sea level at its highest point. The island covers a total land area of 3.22 square miles. It is about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) long and 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) wide.
The island was first settled in 1863. It was named after Rear Admiral Fairfax Moresby, who was a naval commander for the Royal Navy in the Pacific Ocean from 1850 to 1853. A spot at the island's southern tip, Fairfax Point, was also named after him. In the 1880s, an owner named Capt. H. J. Robertson cleared land to plant fruit trees. The island changed hands again in 1940.
Island History and Features
Moresby Island has been logged three times by different Chinese logging companies over the years. Most signs of this logging have disappeared, but you can still find a few clues. For example, traces of the trails built for the logging machines can still be seen.
The island has a very interesting past. It even has a ghost story! There are also remains of a large mansion that used to stand there. Evidence shows that First Nations people used the island as a resting place when they traveled.
Images for kids
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Beautiful arbutus trees on Moresby Island.
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Cattle grazing on Moresby Island.
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An old wagon, a sign of the island's history.
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A field on Moresby Island.
