Lizard, Queensland
Lizard is an offshore locality consisting of a number of islands in the Great Barrier Reef area of the Coral Sea within the Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It includes Lizard Island. In the, Lizard had a population of 65 people.
Geography
The locality consists of many island groups and islands. Being in the Great Barrier Reef area, there are many coral reefs with low-lying islands which can develop or erode over time. Consequently many are unnamed or poorly documented. The named features are listed in the table, from north to south.| Name | Size | Coordinates | Notes |
| Nymph Island | It is surrounded by the Nymph Reef. It is part of the Turtle Group National Park. | ||
| Prince Charles Island | Also known as Osprey Island, it is just off the west coast of Lizard Island connected by the Lizard Island Reef. It is part of the Lizard Island National Park. | ||
| Lizard Island | Named on 12 August 1770 by Lieutenant James Cook, commander of HMS Endeavour, noting "...the only land animals we saw here were lizards". It is a continental island rising to above sea level with the Lizard Island Reef. It is the largest island in the Lizard Island National Park. | ||
| Seabird Islet | approx | A small continental island, covered in grass, shrubs and granite boulders. It is a nesting site for osprey, black-naped terns, bridled terns, silver gulls, Torres Strait Pigeons and reef herons. It is south of Lizard Head on Lizard Island and is part of the Lizard Island Reef and the Lizard Island National Park. It is the only named island in the Bird Islets. | |
| Bird Islets | An island group south of Lizard Head on Lizard Island within the Lizard Island Reef. Its only named island is Seabird Islet. | ||
| Palfrey Island | A continental island rising to to south of Research Point on Lizard Island and part of the Lizard Island Reef and the Lizard Island National Park. | ||
| Eagle Island | Within the Eyrie Reef, it was named by Lieutenant James Cook on the HMS Endeavour on 13 August 1770. It is part of the Lizard Island National Park. | ||
| South Island | Also known as Newt Island, it is a continental island rising to south of Lizard Island. It is part of the Lizard Island Reef and the Island Island National Park. | ||
| Turtle Group | An island group consisting of a number of unnamed islands within the Turtle Group Reef. It is part of the Turtle Group National Park. | ||
| Pethebridge Islets | An island group consisting of two unnamed islands within the Pethebridge Islets Reef, formerly known as Q Reef or Kew Reef. It is part of the Turtle Group National Park. | ||
| North Direction Island | Also known as Northern Direction Island, it is surrounded by the North Direction Reef. | ||
| South Direction Island | It is surrounded by the South Direction Reef. | ||
| Rocky Islets | An island group of 3 unnamed islands joined by the Rocky Islets Reef. One of them rises to. The group is within the Three Islands Group National Park. |
There are three national parks within the locality:
- Lizard Island National Park
- Turtle Group National Park
- Three Islands Group National Park, which includes islands offshore of the neighbouring locality of Hope Vale
History
The locality takes its name from Lizard Island, the largest island in the locality. The island was named on 12 August 1770 by Lieutenant James Cook, commander of HMS Endeavour, with the comment "...the only land animals we saw here were lizards".Heritage listings
Mrs Watson's Cottage on Lizard Island is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.Demographics
In the, Lizard had a population of 49 people.In the, Lizard had a population of 65 people.