Scientists believe Fraser Island has developed over a period of approximately 800,000 years. It's sand comes from the tablelands of northern New South Wales, washed into the sea by the big rivers of that area, and strong sea currents carry it north.
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world stretching 123 km long and covering an area of
166,038ha.
The dingo population on Fraser is regarded as the purest
strain of dingo remaining in eastern Australia.
Fraser Island once had flourishing timber and sand mining industries.
Fraser has over 40 freshwater lakes and is home to half of the known 'perched' lakes in the world.
Fraser Island was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770.
There are no paved roads except in the resort areas.
There are no domestic dogs and cats allowed onto Fraser Island.
There are around 230 species of bird life.
Lake Wabby is being reduced in size due to a massive sand blow
advancing at the rate of around 3 metres a year.
Dingoes were once used by aborigines to flush out game.
The Aboriginal name for
the island was K'gari which means 'Paradise'
.
Central station
has no trains! It was the central Forestry Department
station / centre between 1920 to 1959.
Fraser Island
was World Heritage Listed in December 1992.
The Island was named after Eliza Fraser who was shipwrecked there in 1836.
There are 30 sandblows, which are areas of mobile unvegetated sand, along the eastern and northern coast.
Fraser Island sits on a huge reservoir of fresh water.
Almost the entire island is protected.
Sand contains no significant nutrients, yet Fraser is composed almost entirely of vegetation covered sand and boasts towering rainforests.
Eli Creek is the largest freshwater creek on the eastern, ocean side of Fraser pouring 120 million litres of fresh water a day into the sea.
190 hectare Lake Boomanjin is the largest lake on the island.
Lake McKenzie's beach is considered by some to rank amongst the world's top ten beaches.
Sandy Cape lighthouse at the northern end of Fraser Island was built in 1870.
Indian Head is the most eastern point on Fraser rising 60 metres from the water, and Sandy Cape is the the most northerly point.
