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Farrier Island
HISTORY
Farrier Island (Sir James Smith group)
Farrier Island which lies close to Goldsmith Island was named 'Cash
Islet' in l879 by Staff Commander E. P. Bedwell, RN, in SS Llewellyn.
Bedwell seized upon the 'Smith' name in the Sir James Smith group
to name many of that group's component islands after the trade of the smith
(Blacksmith, Goldsmith etc) and, following on from his naming of Goldsmith
Island, named the islet 'Cash Islet'. 'Cash' in those days referred
more to gold coins than it does today. This name however fell into disuse
until the new name 'Farrier', also derived from 'Smith', was given by Lieutenant
Commander H. T. Bennett, DSO, RAN, in HMAS Geranium in 1925
or 1926.
In 1947 when Ansett Transport Industries first became interested in establishing resorts in the Whitsundays, their letter of 11 September 1947 to the Secretary for Health and Home Affairs expressed interest in a lease of Goldsmith Island with Farrier Island as an adjunct but this was not granted.
On 1 September 1968 Justin J. Ferguson obtained special lease 32676 for 30 years over part of the island though nothing was done with it nor is anything known of Ferguson.
In October 1973 A. J. Humphreys bought the lease and in June 1979 formed a company, Farrier Island Pty Ltd, to which the lease was transferred. A motel-style building was erected with four units plus one larger unit (' the house') under one roof and shares in the company entitled a shareholder to a unit on the island plus 1/ 6 share of the 'house'. In 1987 Jack and Thelma Wilson were resident shareholders under this scheme.
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!