Wheeler Island (Queensland) facts for kids

Wheeler Island is a small, beautiful island in Queensland, Australia. It's part of a group of islands called the Family Islands. You can find Wheeler Island about 15 kilometers (about 9 miles) east of a place called Tully Heads. The local Aboriginal people have their own name for this island, which is Toolgbar.

How Wheeler Island Got Its Name

Wheeler Island is thought to be named after a person named Lieutenant F.S. Wheeler. He was an officer in the Royal Navy who helped map the ocean. He worked on a special ship called HMS Paluma between 1885 and 1888. Many other islands in the Family Islands group are also named after other officers who served on the HMS Paluma.

Protecting Wheeler Island

Wheeler Island is a very special place, especially because it's part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The people who manage this park, called the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), have decided that Wheeler Island is a "Sensitive Location." This means they want to protect its natural environment. To help keep the island safe and healthy, only a limited number of visits are allowed each week. This helps make sure the island's plants and animals are not disturbed too much.

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