Keswick Island
Basil Bay
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Coral Sea |
| Archipelago | Cumberland Islands |
| Total islands | 70 |
| Area | 5.3 km2 (2.0 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| State | Queensland |
| Local government area | Whitsunday Regional Council |
| Capital city | Basil Bay |
| Largest settlement | Basil Bay (pop. 80) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 96 (2014) |
| Pop. density | 18.11 /km2 (46.9 /sq mi) |
| Additional information | |
| Official website | http://www.keswickisland.com.au/ |
Keswick Island is a picturesque island in the southern half of the Whitsunday Islands. Located 34 kilometres north-east of the Queensland city of Mackay, Keswick Island is part of the Cumberland Islands of islands that lay protected inside the waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The island is inhabited by a small number of residents. It is a semi-popular tourist destination set to expand with planned development. Visitors can stay in a small number of catered and self-catered accommodation. The island has its own airstrip and is accessible from Mackay Airport by a short plane flight or by private boat.
Identified as part of the Cumberland Isles Group by Captain James Cook in 1770. Keswick Island and neighbouring St Bees Island were first designated together as ‘L1 Island’ by Lieutenant Matthew Flinders, RN, in HMS Investigator in 1802.
Keswick Island was later individually named in 1879 after the town of Keswick in England's Cumbria Lake District by Staff Commander E. P. Bedwell, RN, in SS Llewellyn.
Keswick Island is approximately 530 hectares (1300 acres) in area, with the majority being national park. It is part of the pristine Cumberland Group of islands that consists of St Bees Island, Keswick Island, Aspatria Island, Scawfell Island, Calder Island, Wigton Island and Cockermouth Island. The island is near to the South Cumberland Islands National Park. Neighbouring islands in the Cumberland Group are accessible by private boat. The nearest developed neighbouring island is Brampton Island some 7 km to the north.
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Wikipedia