Hamilton Island (Queensland)

Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia. It is positioned approximately 887 kilometres (551 mi) north of Brisbane and 512 kilometres (318 mi) south of Cairns. It is also one of the only islands in the Great Barrier Reef with its own commercial airport, with short direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. Like most in the Whitsunday group, Hamilton Island was formed as sea levels rose which created numerous drowned mountains that are situated close to the east coast of Queensland. At the 2011 Australian Census, the island recorded a population of 1,208 people.[1] Hamilton Island is a popular tourist destination all year round. In late August, the island plays host to its annual Hamilton Island Race Week yachting festival, in which more than 250 yachts from across Australia and New Zealand gather for a week of races around the Whitsunday Islands. This is only one of many events hosted on the island. Hamilton Island has won multiple awards including the Australian Traveller "Most Desirable Island Escape" Award in 2015.

Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island marina, 2012
Geography
LocationQueensland, Australia
Coordinates20°21′S 148°57′E
ArchipelagoWhitsunday Islands
Total islands74
Area5 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Administration
StateQueensland
LGAWhitsunday Region
Demographics
Population1,208[1] (2011)

History

Hamilton Island was purchased in 1975 by Keith Williams and Bryan Bryt. In 1978, Keith Williams commenced construction of Hamilton Island Harbour and the resort complex shortly after. The resort opened in phases between 1982 and 1984. In 1985, a fire destroyed most of the central portion of the resort complex, which was completely rebuilt by 1986. The current Whitsunday Holiday Apartments opened in 1986 followed by the current Reefview Hotel in 1990. In 1992, the resort was placed in receivership and between 1995 and 2003 it was owned by BT Australia and managed by Holiday Inn for a portion of that time. In 1999, the five-star Beach Club opened.

Bob Oatley an Australian winemaker and his family purchased Hamilton Island in 2003. Bob Oatley first noted the potential of the island when he cruised past the island aboard a yacht when Keith Williams was in the early stages of the development of the resort. Following an investment and development program the Oatley family now offer holiday destinations there.

In 2009, there were two key infrastructure and tourism developments completed for the resort. The Hamilton Island Yacht Club was officially completed and opened by former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh during Hamilton Island Race Week.[2] and the Hamilton Island Golf Club is new Championship resort course which opened in August 2009. The 18-hole course on neighbouring Dent Island measures 6,120 metres and is billed as the only championship island golf course in Australia.[3]

Wildlife Cull

In September 2016, it was reported by news media outlets that the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) had issued Damage Mitigation Permits (DMP) which resulted in over 1,000 animals being culled on Hamilton Island between November 2014 and May 2016 by the resort's operator. Over 18 months, the cull resulted in the death of 599 common brushtail possums, 393 agile wallabies, 36 pied currawongs, 35 sulphur crested cockatoos, three torresian crows and a laughing kookaburra. The EHP stated the role of the permits were to allow the "ongoing management of some wildlife species to prevent unacceptable levels of damage, and to protect public safety at the airport and in the resort itself". The resort management stated that "any culling of animals and birds is done as a last resort when all other methods have been exhausted".[4][5] The RSPCA were unaware of any culling on the Island.[6] The resort's management carried out the culls “to prevent damage or loss of property and to protect the health and wellbeing of staff, guests and other visitors”. Social media users were critical of the cull.[7][8]

Tourism
Catseye Beach on Hamilton Island
Passage Peak, the highest point on Hamilton Island
Low tide, 2011

Unlike most islands off the east coast of Australia, Hamilton Island is used almost exclusively for tourism. However it is now catering for a growing number of residents, employees of the various businesses on the island and people choosing to retire on the island. Hamilton Island is on long-term lease from the Commonwealth Government by the Oatley family. The Oatleys own and run Hamilton Island Enterprises which operates the majority of accommodation and businesses on the island.

Hamilton Island Airport is the only airport in the Whitsunday Islands that is big enough to cater for larger commercial aircraft. Hamilton Island is also served by several ferries, which can only carry passengers. Mainland motor vehicles are prohibited on the island with the exception of those for tradespeople and island public transport.[9] Private transport needs are mostly served by a fleet of golf buggies, available to tourists for rent and are included as part of some accommodation packages. A public shuttle bus operates on the island serving major points of interests and accommodation sites.

Day trips to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park from Hamilton Island are provided by Cruise Whitsundays and Explore. Visitors can catch glimpses of migrating whales as they make their way through the warm waters of the Whitsundays from July through September each year.

Weddings and events

Each year, Hamilton Island hosts approximately 500 wedding ceremonies, ranging from wedding groups of 2 to 200 guests. There are over 10 ceremony locations and 15 reception venues available on Hamilton Island for weddings. The island has its own non-denominational church, the All Saints Chapel, which overlooks Catseye Bay and is just one of the many ceremony venues available. In 2014, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, Hamilton Island played host to the second most marriages (including civil ceremonies) in the nation, a close second to the Yokine Recreational Centre in Perth.

Advertising campaign
Main article: The Best Job in the World (advertising)

In 2009, Tourism Queensland promoted the Great Barrier Reef as a global tourism destination with a website encouraging people worldwide to apply for "The Best Job in the World:", to be a "Caretaker of the Islands" to "house-sit" the islands of the Great Barrier Reef for half a year, based on Hamilton Island.[10][11][12][13]

At least two major films have been on location at Hamilton Island, Muriel's Wedding (1994) and Fool's Gold (2008). Hamilton island was the holiday location in the 1999 movie Sabrina, Down Under, sequel movie of Sabrina Goes to Rome, both movies extending from the popular TV series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Hamilton Island was the first stop for Oprah Winfrey on her Ultimate Australian Adventure in December 2010. During her stay on Hamilton Island Oprah and 93 of her fans went on an all expenses paid trip from Hamilton Island to the Great Barrier Reef and had a Barbecue reception on Whitehaven Beach hosted by celebrity chef Curtis Stone with entertainment provided by The Ten Tenors. In November 2015, international popstar Taylor Swift performed an intimate show for 100 fans in the Yacht Club on Hamilton Island as a special guest of Nova 969's Red Room. An aerial view of Hamilton Island is the subject of a popular Windows 10 lock screen.

Water supply

Drinking water is provided by a combination of rainwater harvesting and seawater desalination. A reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant was commissioned in 1996 and can supply up to 1.3 million litres of potable water per day. The plant's seawater intake is driven by two vertical turbine pumps installed on a purpose made jetty. Waste brine is discharged to a pit where it gravitates to an ocean outfall away from the seawater intake.[14]

Annual sporting events
  • Fujifilm Hamilton Island Triathlon
  • Hamilton Island Race Week (Sailing)
  • Clash of the Paddles (Outrigger Canoe Racing)
  • Hilly Half Marathon (Cross Country Running)
  • Hilly Full marathon (Cross Country Running)
  • Great Whitehaven Beach Run (Long Distance Running)
  • Fujifilm Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim (Long Distance Swimming)
  • Super League Triathlon

Education

Hamilton Island State School caters for students from the Preparatory Year to Year 6.[15] It is located on Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday group, twenty kilometres from mainland Australia. It opened on 28 January 1986.[16] The school also offers a range of extra-curricula offerings such as year 4, 5 and 6 students have the opportunity to learn how to sail and from 2018, year 4 students will have the opportunity to complete a PADI Seal Diving certificate.[17]

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See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Hamilton Island (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  2. "Hamilton Island Yacht Club opens its doors to the public". Hamilton Island Enterprises. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  3. About the Designer Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine. Hamilton Island Golf Club. Hamilton Island Great Barrier Reef Australia. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  4. More than 1000 animals culled on Hamilton Island in 18 months, Nine News, online article, 8 September 2016 Archived 8 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Hundreds of animals destroyed on Hamilton Island to protect property, people, Queensland Times, online article, 7 September 2016 Archived 9 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Whitsunday island granted permission to kill animals, Daily Mercury, online article, 6 September 2016 Archived 6 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Hamilton Island faces social media backlash over animal culling, The New Daily, online article, 7 September 2016 Archived 8 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Hamilton Island wildlife cull sparks social media backlash, ABC News, online article, 7 September 2016 Archived 7 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Hamilton Island, Queensland". Cruiseabout. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  10. The Best Job in the World website Archived 2009-12-31 at the Wayback Machine - Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
  11. Best Job in the World Archived 2010-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
  12. (12 January 2009). BBC: Wanted: Paradise island 'caretaker' Archived 2009-01-14 at the Wayback Machine. BBC News. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  13. Glen Scanlon (12 January 2009). CNN: Life's a beach with dream Australian island job Archived 2009-01-20 at the Wayback Machine. CNN. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  14. "Case Studies - Hamilton Island". Ausmos. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  15. "Hamilton Island State School". Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  16. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  17. "PADI youth scuba diving programs". Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
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