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Eshelby Island
HISTORY
Eshelby Island
Eshelby Island was named in 1866 by Commander G. S. Nares, RN, in HMS
Salamander though he gave the name 'Eshelby Islands' because of
the double nature of this feature. Modern charts however show only the
main island as Eshelby Island. The naming was after Sub-Lieutenant Alfred
E. Eshelby on board Salamander (Navy lists Salamander; Nares'
charts; Queensland Place Names Gazetteer).
An unmanned navigational light was placed on the island in December 1935, powered initially by batteries but converted to solar power in September 1985. Because of the light station the island was owned by the Commonwealth Government in 1992 (Department of Transport).
The island has always been renowned for its bird-life and in the 1970s Mal McDonald of New Moon Cruises would take tourists there to view the birds. McDonald at one stage in 1971 applied for an oyster lease on the island, away from where he usually landed his passengers (Proserpine Guardian 26 February 1971).
In February 1974 the Proserpine branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society obtained the support of the Proserpine Shire Council in having the island declared a wildlife preserve (Proserpine Guardian 22 February 1974) and in 1987 when the central section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was proclaimed, Eshelby Island was designated a preservation zone and landing there allowed only for research purposes.
The Information on the Whitsunday Islands is reproduced by kind permission of Mr. Ray Blackwood from his book: " The Whitsunday Islands An Historical Dictionary ".
Please visit his site here. It is well worth the time!