From 1935, protection was extended to the muchreduced southern right whale. Tangalooma offers a range of accommodations styles, each set amid the landscaped gardens and natural bushland, most with water views. The islands history also includes the largest landbased whaling station in the southern hemisphere, established in 1950. It was the invention of the explosive harpoon that made whaling possible in antarctic waters. Learn how the town of tangalooma on moreton island evolved from the devastating exploitation of whales, to becoming the home of sustainable whale watch tourism and conservation. The moreton bay marine park was officially established in 1993, 3 decades after tangaloomas whaling stations closure. Brisbane to moreton island and back the sydney morning. Moreton island is a large sand island the third largest in the world located on the coast of southeast queensland, australia, which together with. The bar at the whaling station steakhouse has its own menu and its own local following, with drink specials and lively conversation served nightly. Like fraser island, moreton bay was subject to sand mining on a smaller scale, which ended in 1992 when the mining leases were added to the moreton island national park. Originally a whaling station, tangalooma island resort is a resort on the west side of moreton. From whaling to whale watching queensland historical atlas. The ghetto you have referred to is the historic tangalooma whaling station flensing deck, and is a heritage listed building. Tangalooma and moreton island, have a rich history dating back to the native aboriginals and early european settlement.
Tangaloomas history dates back to the mid20th century when it was originally set up as a whaling station. Cruises visiting tangalooma 20202021 tangalooma cruises. In june 1963 the tangalooma whaling station was sold to a syndicate of gold coast businessmen. Tangaloomas free environmental education fact sheets. Originally a whaling station, tangalooma is a resort township on the west side of moreton island, just a 70 minute catamaran trip from brisbane, in queensland. Tangalooma resort is a popular resort for lovers of outdoor life situated on the western side of moreton island in queensland, australia. Tangalooma was chosen as the site for the largest landbased whaling station in the southern hemisphere. Whaling station in 1950 the australian company whale products pty ltd was formed. This afternoon we explore the island on a guided tour. Set in 1961, the book tells the story of yearold sam keogh. The history of moreton island and tangalooma island resort. Queenslands only whaling station operated at tangalooma from 1952 to 1962.
Whaling was one of the first viable industries established in the swan river colony following the 1829 arrival of british settlers to western australia. Approximately 150 people worked at the station during the austral summer, producing over 140,000 barrels of whale oil. A number of prominent identities associated with moreton bay history appear throughout a number of these papers. The industry had numerous ups and downs until the last whaling station closed in albany in 1978 there are two main species of whales order cetacea which form aggregations along the western australian coastline. Old moreton island whaling station tour tangalooma. In 1980 the resort was purchased by a local brisbane family, the osbornes. Each season the tangalooma whaling station employed over 150 men, working seven days a week for the five months of the season. Tangalooma is known for its resort accommodation and white glistening beach sands. The tangalooma wrecks comprise 15 vessels deliberately sunk to create a breakaway and artificial reef, and is the pick for snorkelling on moreton island large image deliberately sunk in 1963 to form a breakwall for small boats and to encourage marine life and the tourism that it would bring, the 15 vessels in varying states of ruin offering a. The tangalooma wrecks were dumped in 1963 to create a break wall safe harbour for smaller crafts visiting the tangalooma tourist area. Moreton bay people the complete collection moreton bay.
The workforce was cosmopolitan, with expert norwegian whalers flown in to captain the boats and manage the guns, as well as aboriginal, australianborn and migrant workers. Slides by richard hopkins, collection of the centre for the government of queensland. Historic whaling station discovery bay tourism experience. In the past, particularly in the 1950s it was a thriving whaling station, but when whaling was banned in australian waters. In its first year, it killed and processed 600 whales. The story opens in 1961 at the funeral of thirteenyearold sams mother. The indigenous people of moorgumpin are known as the ngugi. The whaling industry supplied oil that was used worldwide in foodstuffs, cosmetics, and in the production of nitroglycerine. Explore an intact whale processing factory and whale chasing ship fully restored and ready for you to discover. Today, you will find a place that is truly flourishing. Tangalooma was selected as the site because of its relative protection, access to fresh water and proximity to brisbane and the migration path of the humpback whales just off cape moreton.
Take a look back at byrons whaling jetty 24th oct 2017 9. Moreton bay people the complete collection has now been reprinted in hard copy by boolarong press. The whaling station, tangalooma, situated on moreton island, is a. History moreton island visitor information and tourism. Tangalooma meeting report to the meat whales stockholder. By the end of the nineteenth, intensive commercial whaling had caused whale numbers to fall precipitously. An awardwinning wine list and full spirits bar compliment your dining experience. Remains of the whaling station are now part of the tangalooma resort facilities. The site of the whaling station is now the tangalooma wild dolphin resort.
Learn about the historical moreton island whaling station at tangalooma. Find out how tangalooma evolved from the devastating exploitation of whales into a sustainable whale watching tourist industry supporting of their conservation. Moorgumpin meaning place of sandhills is the aboriginal name for moreton island. Rhsq administration, author at the royal historical. Attitude change ended tangalooma whaling stations days. In world war i, cowan cowan point provided the main defence base. In 1950 an australian company was formed and tangalooma was chosen as a site for the largest land based whaling station in the southern hemisphere. The whaling station steakhouse restaurant monterey, ca. Snorkelling tangalooma wrecks moreton island, queensland. If youre not going further north in queensland than brisbane but want a fix of tropical bliss, sail over to moreton island. No matter what your holiday goals, you are always ensured of quality service and commitment to your comfort and safety whilst enjoying all that plettenberg bay has. Tangalooma boat for the 75min transfer to tangalooma. Day cruise to moreton island brisbane weekendnotes.
Whaling station tangalooma queenslands only whaling station was also built on moreton island and the remains of the station can still be found at tangalooma resort. To help satisfy this demand, a whaling station was opened at tangalooma in 1952. The first two humpback whales were harpooned in june 1952 near cape moreton marking the beginning of operation. A coming of age novel set in the brutal world of a whaling station at tangalooma on moreton island sounds historical but its more contemporary than you think. Just a 75 minute ferry trip from brisbane, tangalooma island resort provides brisbanes closest access to the beautiful moreton island, home to. Major coastal defence bases were located on moreton island during the world wars. How to travel from gold coast airport to tangalooma. Flensing deck, tangalooma whaling station, 1960 queensland. Today, tangalooma island resort is still owned and operated by the osborne family, brian and betty, along with sons jeff and glenn. Collected throughout the last decade of the twentieth century, these reminiscences of. While the culling of humpbacks that occurred here put the whales on the endangered species list in 1965, tangalooma has since turned into an ecotourism destination where animals of all kinds including whales are actively.
Moreton island was originally a whaling station between 19521962, it was soon after developed for tourism. The tangalooma wrecks of moreton island amusing planet. During the 1950s, a whaling station was set up and thousands of humpback whales were harvested for their oil. After whaling ceased and moreton bay marine park was designated as a wildlife reserve, the humpback whale population has gradually been reestablished. Tangalooma is most famous for being the southern hemispheres largest land based whaling station in the 1950s. The resort can arrange many day tours and activities, including desert safari tours, snorkeling experiences, quad bike tours and helicopter joy flights. We operate a very informative tour of this facility and you can also obtain more information on the history of the whaling station at the tangalooma marine education and information centre entry is free. However, when vegetable oils were introduced to replace whale. The ship wrecks of tangalooma are located on the western side of moreton island near the township of tangalooma, a former whaling station. In 1912 the hektor whaling company was issued with a license to establish a shorebased whaling station. In 1963 the tangalooma whaling station was sold to a syndicate of gold coast businessmen and in 1980 the resort was purchased by the osborne family, who still currently own and operate the resort.
With the relocation of the ngugi to stradbroke island and some time spent as a whaling station, moreton island and tangalooma wrecks have a rugged past. Larsen established the modern whaling industry on south georgia. Old moreton island whaling station tour tangalooma activities. See moreton island history the flensing deck at queenslands tangalooma resort was once the southern hemispheres largest land based whaling station. Originally a whaling station, tangalooma island resort formerly known as tangalooma wild dolphin resort is a resort on the west side of moreton island in queensland, australia. Whaling station tour learn about the history and operations of the tangalooma whaling station with one of the eco rangers.
The tangalooma whaling station on moreton island was quite a tourist attraction during its heyday from 1952 to 1962, with plenty of people happy to pay a bob for day cruises to the island, where. Tangalooma accommodation top tangalooma hotels 2020 wotif. The tangalooma whaling station had an annual quota of 600 humpback whales. You can see remnants of the station and read about its history at the resort today. The first two humpback whales were harpooned in june 1952 near cape moreton. Step back in time and take a journey through whale world, the site of the last operating whaling station in australia.
Sams father, walter keogh, is a traditional aussie bloke, in keeping with the men of the time and with his job at the tangalooma whaling station on moreton island, off the. To become a whale tells the story of yearold sam keogh, whose. With 25,000 whales going by, youre bound to see a few. As a result of the whaling program, humpback whales were placed on the protected species list in 1965.
The cheynes beach whaling company was the last whaling company to cease operations in australia, closing in 1978. Each season up to 600 whales were processed with a maximum of 11 whales per day. The site of tangalooma island resort also has a fascinating and sad maritime history. Old whaling station flensing deck moreton island tangalooma. In 1952, the australian company whale products pty ltd. It lies on the eastern shore of moreton bay and is known for its resort accommodation, dolphinfeeding program, sand dunes and wreck diving. The site of the whaling station is now the tangalooma island resort. Escape to beautiful moreton bay with a scenic cruise that in just over an hour will.
538 1149 997 1087 1291 932 1453 587 1146 445 939 141 1267 137 903 328 292 1299 1281 357 1073 699 538 1467 467 859 322 101 290 143 501