Capricorn and Bunker Group
The islands and reefs of the Capricorn and Bunker Group are situated astride the Tropic of Capricorn at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, approximately 80 kilometres east of Gladstone, which is situated on the central coast of the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia.
Many of these islands form part of the Capricornia Cays National Park and are part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Geography
The Capricorn and Bunker group of islands of the southern Great Barrier Reef lies between from the adjacent departure ports and urban centres of Yeppoon, Gladstone, Town of 1770 and Bundaberg.The Capricorn and Bunker groups are a distinct group of 22 reefs straddling the Tropic of Capricorn, at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. There are 16 permanent coral cays on these reefs, including twin cays on Hoskyn and Fairfax Reefs. North West Island is the largest coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The islands have high natural values, notably breeding populations of seabirds, marine turtles and coral cay vegetation.
Capricorn Group
The Capricorn Group of islands consists of nine coral cays:- North Reef Island
- Tryon Island
- North West Island
- Wilson Island
- Wreck Island
- Masthead Island
- Erskine Island
- Heron Island
- One Tree Island
- Sykes Reef
- Wistari Reef
- Polmaise Reef
- Fitzroy Lagoon Reef
- Llewellyn Reef
- Lamont Reef
- Broomfield Reef
Bunker Group
The Bunker Group consists of five coral cays:In association with
- Boult Reef
History
European pre-discovery of the Group (close sailbys)
During Captain James Cook's first voyage of discovery he sailed well inside the island group between 21 and 25 May 1770, typically offshore. He then made his second landing in Australia at the town of 1770.
Wednesday 23rd Continued our Course a long shore at the distance of about 2 Miles off having from 12 to 9, 8 and 7 fathom water until 5 oClock at which time we were abreast of the South point of a large open bay where in I intended to anchor. accordingly we hauld in close upon a wind and sent a boat a head to sound. after making some trips we anchor'd at 8 oClock in 5 fathom water a Sandy bottom the South point of the Bay bore E3/4 South distance 2 Miles and the north point NW1/4 N and about 2 Miles from the ^shore in the bottom of the bay...........
In the AM I went a shore with a party of men in order to examine the Country accompanied by Mr Banks and the other gentlemen. we landed alittle within the South point of the Bay where there is a channel leading into a large Lagoon
During Matthew Flinders' exploration of the Australian coastline in, a 334-ton sloop, to make a survey along the southern coast of the Australian mainland he passed inshore of the island group.
WEDNESDAY 4 AUGUST 1802, the wind had shifted gradually round, from north to the south-westward; and at noon the north head of Bustard, Bay was brought to bear S. 16° E., four leagues, our latitude being then 23° 48', and longitude 151° 40'. A low island was seen from the mast head, bearing north at the supposed distance of six leagues, of which captain Cook does not make any mention;* and the furthest visible part of the main land was a conspicuous hill, named Mount Larcom, in compliment to captain Larcom of the navy. It bore W. ½° N., ten or eleven leagues; but the coast line between it and the north head of Bustard Bay, seemed to be much broken.
Discovery of the Bunker Group
In 1803 Captain Eber Bunker of the whaling ship was the first European to discover the region and gave his name to the southern group.The Mitchell Library holds a portrait of Eber Bunker wearing a white waistcoat and white linen ruffled shirt each with stand collars, a white stock at neckline, and a navy blue wool double-breasted jacket with brass buttons titled Captain Eber Bunker, 1760–1836, The first of the Whalers, Arrived New South Wales 1791.
Charting of the Groups
The southern cays and reefs were first chartered between 1819 and 1821 by Lieutenant Phillip Parker King Royal Navy initially in Mermaid and later in Bathurst.
July 19, 1820 we steered on, and, a ten o’clock discovered a group of low woody islets. They were named Bunker Isles
The main charting exercise for all the islands and reefs was carried out in 1843 under the command of Captain Francis Price Blackwood in which was accompanied by Bramble.
In 1841 Blackwood was appointed to command the corvette HMS Flyin the first hydrographic survey commissioned by the Admiralty for exploring and charting the north-east Australian coast. Fly, fitted with costly instruments, and carrying two scientists, Joseph Jukes, geologist, and John MacGillivray, zoologist, sailed from Falmouth in April 1842 with the cutter Bramble, under the charge of Lieutenant Charles Yule. After a stop in Hobart Town from August to October, the two ships called at Sydney and began the survey in December 1842.
In the next three years Fly charted from Sandy Cape to Whitsunday Island, including Swain Reefs and Capricorn Islands and the broad passages between. On 7 January 1843, was the first time that the crew of Fly set foot on the First Bunker Island. Fly then carried on and on 10 January 1843, anchored off One Tree Island and gave the island its name. The crew of Fly landed on this island the following day
The single tree.......
On January the 12th We anchored a few miles farther to the N.W. in the centre of a group of reefs and islands, under one thickly wooded island that afterwoods obtained the name if Heron Island......
Jan 13 to 18 - The Fly, the Bramble and the boats were engaged in surveying the group of islands and reefs about, which, from the tropic of Capricorn running through them, have been called the Capricorn Group......
Jan 18 - Landed with Captain Blackwood on Wreck Island. This was so named for part of a vessel 6 or 700 tons. The island was about a quarter of a mile long and not more than 100 yards broad; a pile of sand covered by thick bushes.
Jan 21 Captain Blackwood and Mr Evans being ashore to "take sights" for the chronometers, found on the island some traces of the wrecked crew. On one tree was cut "The America, June 1831;" on another "Mary Ann Broughton;" on another "Capt. E. David;" and "Nelson November, 1831." There were likewise the soles of a pair of child’s shoes, some bottles, some broken dishes, and an old cask. I believe the wreck was that of a whaler, and that the crew were taken off by another whaler, as there were no signs of either graves or bones.
The naturalist, Professor J. Beete Jukes, was on board HMS Fly and his published journal provides valuable information on some of the cays.
Early uses – guano mining 1890s
The mining of guano was carried out by J. T. Arundel & Co, a company controlled by John T. Arundel that evolved into the Pacific Islands Company. Mining occurred on Lady Musgrave Island, Fairfax Islands and North West Island during the 1890s. This was an extension of a more substantial guano mining operation on Lady Elliot Island to the south and several of the south Coral Sea Islands particularly Bird Islet part of Wreck Reefs and Raine Island, where profound impacts on vegetation were sustained as a result of the industry. Some remains of these activities are still evident.A good description of part of the operations from 1899 can be found below
The Pacific Islands Company, having worked cut the guano deposits at Fairfax Island, Bunker Group, is now transferring their plant to North-west Island in the Capricorn Group, which will be "the head- quarters for some time to" come. The steamer Lady Musgrave, which was chartered by the company for this work, returned to Bundaberg on Sunday afternoon, bringing Mr. A. E. Ellis, the local manager, and account forty Japanese, whose services are being dispensed with. The captain of the Lady Musgrave reports that he had helped to complete the work of removal from Fairfax to North-east Island. In about ten days, but, owing to the bad weather experienced, it occupied sixteen days to get through with It. So bad was the weather, that in fourteen days the vessel was only able to Steam for fifty hours, the steamer having to take shelter behind one of the islands from the heavy squalls and rain. The Lady Musgrave left Fairfax Island at 4 p.m. on Saturday, with the ketch Loma Doone in tow. Heavy weather was encountered, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday the line parted, and not withstanding all the efforts made, it proved impossible to pick up the ketch again, and it was decided to make for Burnett Heads, which were not reached, as stated, till 4 p.m. the same day. The Loma Doone apparently got through all right, for she was reported off Bustard Head on Sunday, and is expected to arrive here tomorrow
Yet latter during September 1933 the leases and guano rights of Fairfax and Hoskyn Islands, off Gladstone, were sold by auction at Gladstone. They were bought on behalf of the Barrier Reef Phosphate Syndicate.
It is unsure if the project ever succeed in the removal of guano from Hoskyn Islands.