Cape Moreton
Cape Moreton is a rocky headland located at the north eastern tip of Moreton Island in South East Queensland, Australia. The surrounding area is part of the Moreton Island National Park. 5 km north-west of Cape Moreton is Flinders Reef.
The outcrop is mostly composed of sandstone, but also some conglomerate, siltstone and shale.[1] The whole of Moreton Island was formed by sand caught on and built up behind these rocks.
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[edit] History
On the 17 May 1770, James Cook sighted and named the point. By 1959 the island's second settlement begin at Cape Moreton. At one point a school was operating at Cape Moreton with a total of 15 children.[1] Until 1952 when it was abandoned, a telegraph line reached the point, via Amity on North Stradbroke Island.[1]
The hospital ship Centaur was sunk close to Cape Moreton in 1943 when a Japanese submarine torpedoed the ship, taking the lives of 268 people. The wreck was found on the 20 December 2009 in a steep walled gulley, 2,059 m below the ocean surface.
The MV Pacific Adventurer lost containers in high seas created by Cyclone Hamish and caused the 2009 southeast Queensland oil spill. The containers were located after a 10-day search, about 7 km off the coast of Cape Moreton.[2]
[edit] Lighthouse
Cape Moreton Light was the first lighthouse established in Queensland. The 23 metres (75 ft) tall structure was constructed of locally quarried sandstone, and was built in 1857.[3] 35 good conduct prisoners were used for labour.[1]
A pilot station was established at Bulwer on the northern end of the island in 1848.[1] At one time there was a total of seven lighthouses in operation on the island.[1]
Cape Moreton Lighthouse Complex, consisting of the lighthouse, three keepers' cottages and associated structures, was registered on the Register of the National Estate in 1981.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Horton, Helen (1983). Islands of Moreton Bay. Spring Hill, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. pp. 103—114. ISBN 0908175671.
- ^ Andrew Wight (2008-03-28). "Navy locates missing containers". Brisbane Times. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/qld-news/navy-locates-missing-containers-20090328-9ej3.html. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
- ^ Nolan, Carolyn; Robert Longhurst (1996). Brisbane's Moreton Bay:Our heritage in focus. South Brisbane, Queensland: State Library of Queensland. p. 52. ISBN 0724271767.
[edit] External links
- "The Cape Moreton Lighthouse". Lighthouses of Queensland. Lighthouses of Australia Inc. http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/QLD/Moreton%20Island/Cape%20Moreton.htm.
- "Cape Moreton Lighthouse Complex (entry AHD17189)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=17189.
