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Lady Elliot Island - General Information |
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History - Lady Elliot Island was discovered in 1816 by Captain Tomas Stewart who was sailing the Queensland coast in his ship the Lady Elliot. The island itself encompasses 42 hectares of bush and sun drenched beaches surrounded by the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef. One of the most revered diving and snorkeling spots in the world, Lady Elliot Island sits at the most southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and is abundant with various species of marine life. The eastern side of the island is protected by a large coral lagoon, sheltered from any turbulent weather which allows year round swimming and snorkeling in a protected environment. The heart of the island is also home to many migratory bird species which nest in the trees, shrubs and grass around the resort. During the period of 1863 to 1873 Guano mining thrived on Lady Elliot Island and as a result the natural environment was severely damaged, so much so that the original vegetation that populated the island now can not be identified. The introduction of goats to the delicate environment also contributed to the break down of Lady Elliot Island's original landscape.
In the year 1866 the first light house was constructed on Lady Elliot Island however it was destroyed during a tropical cyclone in 1872. The next year another light house was constructed as a replacement and was made of cast iron and wood, after 122 years of navigating ships around the coral cay the historical light house was demolished in 1995 and replaced. To this day the light house still stands strong and is listed on the National Estate registry along with three light house cottages built in 1928. The families which kept the lighthouse led an isolated life, perishables would not keep, medical attention wasn't available and loneliness and boredom made the living conditions hard. At present the Lady Elliot Island Resort staff keep the meteorological records however up until 1988 lighthouse staff remained to record the data even though the lighthouse was automated seven years earlier in 1981.
At present the only way of accessing Lady Elliot Island is by air and in 1969 an aircraft runway was constructed, bringing the first day tours into fruition. This year also marked the beginning of the regeneration of the Island's vegetation, a significant turning point in Lady Elliot Island's history. The delicate and unique eco systems that encompass Lady Elliot Island have been recognised as not only a national treasure but also as a world wide treasure, an area that should be enjoyed by all and for generations to come. A positive step towards this goal was the enlisting of Lady Elliot Island on to the World Heritage List, a guarantee that preservation measures will be enforced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. One such step is the limiting of human interaction with the area, guest numbers are kept at a maximum of just 105 people at any one time. These factors combined with the environmentally friendly resort ensures the protection and preservation of Lady Elliot Island and the surrounding Great Barrier Reef for years to come. |
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Lady Elliot Island - Information and History - Great Barrier Reef - Australia |
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See Downunder |
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Lady Elliot Island Resort - Great Barrier Reef - Australia
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