South Passage (Queensland)
Encyclopedia
South Passage is channel between the South Pacific Ocean
and Moreton Bay
. The other entrances to the bay are the North Passage and Jumpinpin Channel
in the south.
It was once the main entrance for ships entering the bay. South Passage begins in the shallow sand-barred channel between Moreton Island
and North Stradbroke Island
and continues along North Stradbroke Island past Amity Point
to Dunwich
.
Crossing the channel by small boat is not recommended, especially during a high swell, due to the network of channels and shifting sand bars. The tidal flow
is rapid with a rate of 150 cm per second during the flooding tide and slightly slower during the ebb tide of 100 cm per second.
The passage has a return coefficient of 50%, meaning that half the amount of water that leaves the bay via the passage returns the same way on the flooding tide.
as he explored the coastline in May 1770. On the 14 July 1799, Matthew Flinders
was the first European to discern an opening between the islands. In 1824 John Oxley
aboard the Amity left Moreton Bay via the South Passage after he had explored the Brisbane River with Allan Cunningham
. He was the first European sailor known to do so.
The Lucinda
was used as a mail vessel for delivering mail up and down the Queensland coast. The boat was largely captained by Captain James South who notably used South Passage to cut hours off the mail route. This is how South Passage came to be named.
In 1847, 40 people lost their lives when the Sovereign was wrecked as it passed through the passage. This led to the shipping route being moved to the northern entrance to the bay the next year, while the pilot station was moved to Cowan Cowan on Moreton Island.
Another wreck found in the passage is the Rufus King.
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
. The other entrances to the bay are the North Passage and Jumpinpin Channel
Jumpinpin Channel
The Jumpinpin channel also known as The Pin lies between North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island. It has a fast moving tidal deep water Channel not appropriate for swimming but is popular with beach anglers....
in the south.
It was once the main entrance for ships entering the bay. South Passage begins in the shallow sand-barred channel between Moreton Island
Moreton Island
Moreton Island is a large sand island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, on the coast of south-east Queensland, Australia. Moreton Island lies 58 kilometres northeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane. The island is 95% National Park and a popular destination for four wheel driving, camping,...
and North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island is an Australian island in the state of Queensland, 30 km southeast of the capital Brisbane. Before 1896 the island was part of the Stradbroke Island. In that year a storm separated it from South Stradbroke Island, forming the Jumpinpin Channel. It is known...
and continues along North Stradbroke Island past Amity Point
Amity Point, Queensland
Amity Point is a small close knit township located on the north western point of North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia in Redland City. At the 2006 census, Amity Point had a population of 408....
to Dunwich
Dunwich, Queensland
Dunwich is a small town on the western side of North Stradbroke Island in the Australian state of Queensland. The town is part of the Redland City local government area, based on the mainland in the Brisbane bayside suburb of Cleveland. Dunwich is one of three towns on North Stradbroke Island -...
.
Crossing the channel by small boat is not recommended, especially during a high swell, due to the network of channels and shifting sand bars. The tidal flow
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
is rapid with a rate of 150 cm per second during the flooding tide and slightly slower during the ebb tide of 100 cm per second.
The passage has a return coefficient of 50%, meaning that half the amount of water that leaves the bay via the passage returns the same way on the flooding tide.
History
The channel was not noticed by Lieutenant James CookJames Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
as he explored the coastline in May 1770. On the 14 July 1799, Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
was the first European to discern an opening between the islands. In 1824 John Oxley
John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05...
aboard the Amity left Moreton Bay via the South Passage after he had explored the Brisbane River with Allan Cunningham
Allan Cunningham (botanist)
Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...
. He was the first European sailor known to do so.
The Lucinda
Lucinda (steamboat)
The Lucinda was a Queensland Government owned, 301 ton paddle steamer built by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, Scotland in 1884.She was used in various capacities during her years of service...
was used as a mail vessel for delivering mail up and down the Queensland coast. The boat was largely captained by Captain James South who notably used South Passage to cut hours off the mail route. This is how South Passage came to be named.
In 1847, 40 people lost their lives when the Sovereign was wrecked as it passed through the passage. This led to the shipping route being moved to the northern entrance to the bay the next year, while the pilot station was moved to Cowan Cowan on Moreton Island.
Another wreck found in the passage is the Rufus King.