Bay Islands, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
islands in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The group is at 27°38'S 153°23'E, and is part of the Redland City, with a permanent population of 4240 as of the 2006 census. However, nearly one third of all dwellings on the islands were unoccupied, suggesting a high proportion of "second homes" are maintained by people elsewhere on Census Night
The four inhabited Bay Islands in 2006 were:
- Karragarra, population 125
- Lamb, population 373
- Russell, population 1776
- MacleayMacleay IslandMacleay Island is an island located in Moreton Bay, South East Queensland. It is in the Redland City Council Local Government Area and has the postcode 4184. Perulpa Island is a small attached to Macleay Island by a causeway....
, population 1957
Tiny Perulpa Island is joined by a causeway to Macleay and is generally regarded as part of Macleay.
In 2007, after a national A Current Affair television news segment, the islands received an enormous amount of interest as having the cheapest land in Australia.
Russell and Macleay have most basic services such as supermarkets, restaurants, primary schools, doctors, police, ambulance, fire brigade, SES, clubs and pubs. Lamb Island has a kiosk with basic supplies and convenience items. Karragarra has no shops at all, which is preferred by the residents.
Originally subdivided in the early 1970s, a bridge was promised by the then government. This never eventuated and residents are now feeling the pressure of transport to the mainland for some shopping trips, as mainland parking has become very scarce.
The Islands enjoy a quiet, relaxed lifestyle with many retirees, pensioners and more recently, an influx of younger families looking for some safety and security, away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland.
The inhabited Southern Moreton Bay Islands should not be confused with the Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park
Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park
Southern Moreton Bay Islands is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 44 km southeast of Brisbane. It forms part of the Moreton Bay and Pumicestone Passage Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because it supports large numbers of migratory waders, or shorebirds....
located just to the south and inside the Gold Coast City.
Transportation
The islands have a frequent scheduled vehicle barge provided by Stradbroke Ferries and fast passenger ferries services provided by Bay Islands Transit, leaving from Redland BayRedland Bay, Queensland
Redland Bay is a suburb south-east of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia, and is part of the Redland City local government area. It is named for the bay it sits on, which forms part of larger Moreton Bay...
. The spectacular Canaipa Passage between North Stradbroke and Russell is a favourite destination for private boats
Coochiemudlo Island has ferries from Victoria Point. North Stradbroke Island has ferries from Cleveland.
Telecommunications
Macleay Island has a telephone exchange (MCLI) which is linked via Microwave Transmitters to the Victoria Point Telephone Exchange, which then hands over call switching and internet connectivity to the Woolloongabba Exchange via Fibre Optic. Submarine cables connect Lamb Island to Macleay Island Exchange.Russell Island has its own telephone exchange (RUST) which is once again linked via Microwave, but this time to the Mount Cotton Exchange, then to the Wolloongabba Exchange via Fibre Optic. Karragarra Island is connected via submarine cable to the Russell Island Exchange.
The Islands are capable of handling ADSL1 and ADSL2+ Internet, as well as 3G Broadband and Satellite. Foxtel is also available to residents of the Island via conventional parabolic dishes.