Editing Holbourne Island National Park

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Holbourne Island National Park
| state                  = qld
| iucn_category          = II
| image                  = Holbourne - panoramio.jpg
| caption                = Holbourne Island, 2007
| image_alt              = 
| coordinates            = {{coord|19|43|38|S|148|21|32|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief                 = yes
| map_alt                = 
| nearest_town_or_city   = 
| area                   = {{convert|34|ha|acre|0|abbr=on}}
| area_footnotes         = 
| established            = 1982
| established_footnotes  = 
| visitation_num         = 
| visitation_year        = 
| visitation_footnotes   = 
| managing_authorities   = Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
| url                    = 
}}
'''Holbourne Island National Park''' is a [[national park]] in [[Queensland]] (Australia), {{convert|983|km}} northwest of Brisbane.

== History ==
[[File:Gothenberg Turtle Shell.jpg|thumb|168px|''Gothenburg's'' Turtle Shell Roll]]
Holbourne Island became well known in 1875, when 18 survivors of the shipwreck {{SS|Gothenburg}} reached its shores. Four survivors arrived on a damaged port [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboat]] on 25 February, where they survived by eating raw bird's eggs and drinking rain water that had pooled in the island rocks. The following day, 14 survivors from a starboard lifeboat also landed. Because rescue was uncertain, the survivors [[engraving|engraved]] their names on the [[wiktionary:Concave|concave]] side of a large [[turtle]] shell, which is displayed in the [[South Australian Museum]], on North Terrace in Adelaide.<ref name=":0" />

On 28 February, 15 of them set off in the starboard lifeboat for an island about {{convert|20|mi|km}} away to the south, which seemed to be more in the track of ships. A rescue ship sent looking for survivors of ''Gothenburg'', picked up the group and took them safely to [[Bowen, Queensland|Bowen]]. The ship subsequently returned to Holbourne Island and rescued the three remaining survivors.<ref name=":0">McInnes, Allan (1982). Wreck of the Gothenburg: Read to a Meeting of the Society on 25 February 1982.</ref>

== Present day ==

As well as being a national park, Holbourne Island is well known as a natural bird sanctuary and turtle [[nest]]ing area.<ref>[http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/onboard/home/what_you_do/boat_tours_and_charters/standard_exclusions_for_boat_tours_and_charters Australian Government ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110032014/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/onboard/home/what_you_do/boat_tours_and_charters/standard_exclusions_for_boat_tours_and_charters |date=10 November 2007 }} (2008). Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Retrieved online 19 January 2008.</ref>

On 2 September 2001, the 50,000 [[gross ton]] bulk carrier ''Pax Phoenix'' departed Hay Point, Queensland bound for India via Singapore. While passing Holbourne Island, an oil slick was noticed and described as being {{convert|60|to(-)|80|m|ft}} in width. Although there were concerns about the effect on the island and wildlife, it eventually dispersed naturally out to sea without impact.<ref>[http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Environment_Protection/Major_Oil_Spills_in_Australia/Pax_Phoenix/index.asp Australian Government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327130326/http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Environment_Protection/Major_Oil_Spills_in_Australia/Pax_Phoenix/index.asp |date=27 March 2008 }} (2006). Major Oil Spills in Australia: Pax Phoenix. Retrieved online 19 January 2008.</ref>

Holbourne Island is often referred to as part of the [[Coral Sea|Coral Sea's]] [[Bermuda Triangle]], as several maritime mysteries are linked to the area.<ref>Bateman, Daniel (2009). [http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/06/06/57611_print.html Coral sea's Bermuda Triangle]. [[Townsville Bulletin]]. Retrieved on 16 June 2009.</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Queensland}}
* [[Protected areas of Queensland]]

==References==
{{commons category|Holbourne Island}}
{{Reflist}}

{{National Parks of Queensland}}
{{North Queensland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Queensland]]
[[Category:Islands on the Great Barrier Reef]]
[[Category:North Queensland]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1982]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Uninhabited islands of Australia]]