Quail Island (Northern Territory)
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 12°31′08″S 130°26′06″E / 12.519°S 130.435°E |
| Archipelago | Quail Island Group |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
Quail Island is 40 km from Port Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia.
On 9 October 1881 when SS Brisbane, an 85.8 metres long passenger, cargo and mail ship, built by A & J Inglis, Pointhouse, Glasgow, struck the nearby Fish Reef, while heading there with cargo from Hong Kong.[1]
Quail Island belongs to the Quail Island Group. The other two islands in the archipelago are Bare Sand Island (southwest of Quail Island) and Djadjalbit Island (south).[2]
The islands are known for being a breeding ground for flatback turtles.[3]
Defense training
The Quail Island Air Weapons Range was used a training ground for defense forces from 1945 to 1979.[3] There are large munitions scattered around the island as a result. A three-year clean-up began in 2011 to remove hazards such as unexploded ordnance.[4] Visitors such as tourists and recreational anglers have been banned from the islands during the clean-up process.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "WRECK OF THE BRISBANE". Illustrated Australian News. No. 311. Victoria, Australia. 5 November 1881. p. 206. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Northern Territory islands off-limits while ADF clears bombs". The Australian. News Limited. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Quail Island Group". 7:30 NT. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ^ "Islands closed for unexploded bomb disposal". ntnews.com.au. News Limited. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
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