Bribie Island

Bribie Island is the smallest and most northerly of three major sand islands forming the coastline sheltering the northern part of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. The others are Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island. Bribie Island is 34 kilometres (21 miles) long, and 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) at its widest. Archibald Meston believed that the name of the island came from a corruption of a mainland word for it, Boorabee meaning koala. However, the correct Joondaburri name for the island is in fact Yarun.

Bribie Island
Native name:
Yarun
A NASA Landsat image of Bribie Island
Bribie Island
Location of Bribie Island
Geography
LocationCoral Sea
Coordinates26.965°S 153.125°E / -26.965; 153.125
Area148 km2 (57 sq mi)
Length34 km (21.1 mi)
Width8 km (5 mi)
Administration
Australia
StateQueensland
Local Government AreasCity of Moreton Bay & Sunshine Coast Region
Demographics
Population18,189 (2016)

Bribie Island hugs the coastline and tapers to a long spit at its most northern point near Caloundra, and is separated from the mainland by Pumicestone Passage. The ocean side of the island is somewhat sheltered from prevailing winds by Moreton Island and associated sand banks and has only a small surf break. The lee side is calm, with white sandy beaches in the south.

Most of the island is uninhabited national park (55.8 square kilometres or 21.5 square miles) and forestry plantations. The southern end of the island has been intensively urbanised as part of the City of Moreton Bay, the main suburbs being Bongaree, Woorim, Bellara and Banksia Beach. A bridge from Sandstone Point on the mainland to Bellara and Bongaree was completed in 1963.

Buckley's Hole, at the southern tip of the island, is an important bird habitat and refuge.

On 2 January 2022, the ocean broke through the narrow spit of the island 2 km from the northern tip (due to Cyclone Seth culminating with a king tide). This event created a new passage 200 metres wide. With the ocean waves now able to break onto the mainland at Golden Beach, there is significant concern for the effect this will have for residents and businesses there.

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