Brampton Island (Queensland)

Infobox_protected_area_of_Australia | name = Brampton Island
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locator_x = 241
locator_y = 65
nearest_town_or_city = Mackay
coordinates = coord|20|48|09|S|149|16|35|E|display=inline,title
area = 4.6 km²cite web|url=http://www.brampton-island.com/images/pdfs/?bmp_resort_factsheet|title=Brampton Island factsheet|publisher=Voyages|accessdate=2008-06-17]
established =
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managing_authorities =
official_site =

Brampton Island is an island in the Cumberland Group, off shore from Mackay in Queensland, Australia.cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/Brampton-Island/2005/02/17/1108500202163.html|title=Brampton Island|date=2004-02-08|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2008-06-17] Brampton Island is mostly designated as Brampton Islands National Park, but there is also a resort on the island operated by Voyages. It is also within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The highest point of the island is Brampton Peak, 214 m above sea level.cite web|url=http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/find_a_park_or_forest/brampton_islands_national_park/|title=Brampton Islands National Park|publisher=EPA/QPWS|accessdate=2008-06-17]

History

Early history

The traditional Aboriginal owners of Brampton Island are the the Ngaro people, although no permanent population was present when Captain James Cook passed through the area in June 1770. The island was eventually given its European name in 1879, when Staff Commander Bedwell of the Royal Navy recognised the group of islands and named each after towns in the Cumberland Lake District.

Modern history

ettlement and the development of the resort

In 1916, Joseph Busuttin and his family became the island's first European settlers. The island's resort was first established in December 1933 when two of the Busuttin's sons welcomed passengers from the P&O ship "SS Canberra". Busuttin's sons then sold the resort and left in 1959. An airstrip was built on the island in 1965 and a saltwater swimming pool was completed in 1972. In 1985, Trans Australia Airlines purchased Brampton Island, upgraded the resort and then sold it to P&O Resorts in late 1997. $3 million was spent on a major refurbishment of the resort before it was purchased by its current owners, Voyages.

Celia Douty murder

On September 1 1983, British resort worker Celia Douty was murdered in Dinghy Bay on Brampton Island.cite web|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/streams/2007/3/9/2_137173_1_255.pdf|title=Murder most foul|date=2007-03-09|publisher=Tony James Syndication via Weekly Gulf Times|pages=2|accessdate=2008-06-17] The crime remained unsolved until 2001, when it became the first murder in Australia to be solved using DNA profiling.cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/1322624/18-years-on%2C-man-is-jailed-for-murder-of-Briton-in-%27paradise%27.html|title=18 years on, man is jailed for murder of Briton in 'paradise'|last=Dutter|first=Barbie|date=2001-06-19|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1195029.htm|title=DNA evidence may not be infallible: experts|last=McCutcheon|first=Peter|date=2004-09-08|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2008-06-17]

Light plane crash

On April 3 2008, a single engine Piper Cherokee crashed into the ocean just after taking off from Brampton Island. The pilot and four passengers survived and were rescued by helicopter.cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/03/2207562.htm|title=Five survive light plane crash|date=2008-04-03|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/04/2208587.htm|title=Brampton Island plane crash investigation continues|date=2008-04-04|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=2008-06-17]

Land use

National park

Most of the island is part of Brampton Islands National Park, which is home to a range of wildlife and plants. There are also 17.8 km of walking tracks and a campsite, which requires a permit to use.

Resort

Voyages run the Brampton Island Resort, which accommodates up to 220 guests in 106 rooms and is popular with couples. The resort offers a number of free and paid-for activities, including fishing trips, snorkelling and scenic flights.

References

External links

* [http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/find_a_park_or_forest/brampton_islands_national_park/ EPA page on Brampton Islands National Park] .