Macleay Island
Encyclopedia
Macleay 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
.
For some time the island was called Tim Shea's Island after a convict
who lived on the island for more than a decade. The current name was given by Surveyor Warner who named the island after Alexander Macleay
who was the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales from 1825 to 1837.
The permanent population was 1,958 in the 2006 Census. However, the population has a high number of weekend owners with nearly a third of the 1,259 dwellings listed as unoccupied at the time of the Tuesday night census.
The island as a part of the southern Bay Islands can be accessed by passenger or vehicular ferry from Redland Bay
. It is the fourth largest island in Moreton Bay
after North Stradbroke Island
, Moreton Island
and Russell Island.
Macleay Island has sandy beaches and mangrove
foreshores. These are popular spots for fishing, swimming, sailing, picnicking and barbecues. A popular launch spot is the new Dalpura Ramp towards the north of the island. Other recreational facilities include boat, bowling and golfing clubs. Macleay has a reasonable range of shops including cafes, restaurants and supermarkets. It has a lively Progress Association which runs the island's well-stocked library.
In 2007, after a short segment on the Nine television network's nationally broadcast A Current Affair based on the comments made by real estate watcher John Edwards of Residex said that Macleay Island was a "boom suburb" and worth watching by first home buyers. All the SMBI Islands received an considerable amount of interest from buyers for a short time.
A surge in building followed which forced the Redland City Council to do a review of the official census figures. It estimated 2,319 permanent residents on Macleay in 2008. However with a count of 1,479 dwellings, the peak number of people on the islands during holidays and weekends the total population is thought to have been 3,254.
During the 2006 state election, the Queensland Government prioritised construction of a single-officer police station for on the island because some locals claimed crime was getting out of hand. The station started operation in June, 2008.
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...
, South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
. 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
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
.
For some time the island was called Tim Shea's Island after a convict
Convict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
who lived on the island for more than a decade. The current name was given by Surveyor Warner who named the island after Alexander Macleay
Alexander Macleay
Hon. Alexander Macleay MLC FLS FRS was a leading member of the Linnean Society and a fellow of the Royal Society.Macleay was born on Ross-shire, Scotland, eldest son of William Macleay, provost of Wick...
who was the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales from 1825 to 1837.
The permanent population was 1,958 in the 2006 Census. However, the population has a high number of weekend owners with nearly a third of the 1,259 dwellings listed as unoccupied at the time of the Tuesday night census.
The island as a part of the southern Bay Islands can be accessed by passenger or vehicular ferry from Redland Bay
Redland 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...
. It is the fourth largest island in Moreton Bay
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...
after North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island is an Australian island in the state of Queensland, 30 km southeast of the capital Brisbane. Before 1896 the island was part of the Stradbroke Island. In that year a storm separated it from South Stradbroke Island, forming the Jumpinpin Channel. It is known...
, Moreton Island
Moreton Island
Moreton Island is a large sand island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, on the coast of south-east Queensland, Australia. Moreton Island lies 58 kilometres northeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane. The island is 95% National Park and a popular destination for four wheel driving, camping,...
and Russell Island.
Macleay Island has sandy beaches and mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
foreshores. These are popular spots for fishing, swimming, sailing, picnicking and barbecues. A popular launch spot is the new Dalpura Ramp towards the north of the island. Other recreational facilities include boat, bowling and golfing clubs. Macleay has a reasonable range of shops including cafes, restaurants and supermarkets. It has a lively Progress Association which runs the island's well-stocked library.
In 2007, after a short segment on the Nine television network's nationally broadcast A Current Affair based on the comments made by real estate watcher John Edwards of Residex said that Macleay Island was a "boom suburb" and worth watching by first home buyers. All the SMBI Islands received an considerable amount of interest from buyers for a short time.
A surge in building followed which forced the Redland City Council to do a review of the official census figures. It estimated 2,319 permanent residents on Macleay in 2008. However with a count of 1,479 dwellings, the peak number of people on the islands during holidays and weekends the total population is thought to have been 3,254.
During the 2006 state election, the Queensland Government prioritised construction of a single-officer police station for on the island because some locals claimed crime was getting out of hand. The station started operation in June, 2008.