The Great Sandy Strait is a strait in the Australian state of Queensland of 70 kilometres (43 mi) length which separates mainland Queensland from K'gari. It is also a locality in the Fraser Coast Region local government area.[2] To the north of the strait is Hervey Bay.[3] In the 2021 census, Great Sandy Strait had "no people or a very low population".[1]
Geography
The Great Sandy Strait extends south from Hervey Bay to Inskip Point. The Mary River enters the strait at River Heads. It covers an area of 932 square kilometres (360 sq mi).[4] The southern entrance to the strait is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide.[3]
There are numerous named and unnamed islands in the strait. The named island are from north to south: Big Woody Island, Round Island, Little Woody Island, Picnic Island, Duck Island, Walsh Island, Turkey Island, Bookar Island, Thomas Island, Slain Island, Tooth Island, Round Bush Island, New Island, Garden Island, Dream Island, and Stewart Island.[5]
Most of the island are low and sandy in character. Only a few have significant elevations, e.g. Big Woody Island rises to 50 metres (160 ft) above sea level. Although most of the islands are uninhabitable, there is a small area of residential development on the north-west of Stewart Island (25°36′58″S152°57′13″E / 25.6161°S 152.9536°E / -25.6161; 152.9536 (Stewart Island housing)).[5]
Lieutenant Joseph Dayman was the first European to navigate through the Great Sandy Strait on 10 November 1846 in a small decked boat called the Asp. It had been intended that Dayman rendezvous with HMS Rattlesnake but that ship had already departed. Dayman decided it was safer to take the Asp through the Great Sandy Strait rather than risk taking the route to the ocean side of K'gari as he was concerned about rounding the Breaksea Spit.[8]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Great Sandy Strait had a population of 4 people.[9]
In the 2021 census, Great Sandy Strait had "no people or a very low population".[1]
Economy
Tourism and commercial fishing are the two main industries that are active within the Strait. Boating and fishing are also pursued for recreation.[10]
^Bill Hoffman (14 November 2009). "How the Mary Valley was saved". Sunshine Coast Daily. APN News & Media. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
^"Great Sandy Marine Park (map)"(PDF). Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing. Queensland government. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.