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Double Cone Island
HISTORY
Double Cone Island
Double Cone Island was named in 1866 by Commander
G. S. Nares, RN, in HMS Salamander and in a copy of his
sailing directions for the Whitsunday Passage given to the Port Denison Times
and published by them on 13 October 1866 it is stated 'Seen from the north
the island is like two perfect cones, hence its name'. In Salamander's log
for 12 February 1866 this island is referred to as 'Bramble Island', probably
deriving from the surveys of the area by HMS Bramble in company
with HMS Fly in 1843 and 1844 but Nares must have changed his mind
and decided finally on 'Double Cone'. Over the years the island has been
something of a jinx to shipping and the following incidents have occurred there:
September 1888: SS Cintra grounded
November 1894: The schooner Escort stranded
December 1959: MV Taranui grounded
May 1978: Trawler Pacock wrecked
In December 1961 the island was the scene of the rescue of two young men,
Seigfried Bentner and Otto Langer, both from Sydney, who on Saturday 16 December
had gone on a fishing trip from Airlie Beach in a catamaran. Their
motor failed, the boat swamped in rough seas and then drifted back and forth
between Pioneer Point and Double Cone Island until on Sunday afternoon,
17 December they drifted close enough to Double Cone Island to work the boat
ashore. Meanwhile the alarm had been raised ashore and a plane from Lindeman
Island was diverted to the search. It sighted the men on Monday and
they were picked up by Doris Ann owned by Airlie identity Henry Rowe
(Proserpine Guardian 22 December 1961).
A more tragic event involved the island in July 1976. On Sunday, 11
July a 4.8 metre boat with three occupants capsized near North Molle Island
while travelling from Nara Inlet. The occupants, all wearing
life-jackets, became separated and one of them, Robert Ernest Dark of the Gold
Coast finally struggled ashore on Double Cone Island after drifting for 16
hours. He was picked up by the yacht Phedra on Wednesday suffering
from exposure and exhaustion. The alarm was raised and an intensive search
mounted but hampered by rough seas. Eventually the boat was found
north-east of Holborne Island but no trace was ever
found of the other two men (Proserpine Guardian 16 July 1976).
The island was declared a national park in 1938
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!