St Helena Island - Queensland

St Helena Island is situated just 5 kilometres off the coast at the Mouth of the Brisbane River near Brisbane and forms one of a chain of sand islands in Moreton Bay. St Helena Island has a very interesting history and is a great place to get away and visit.

St Helena Island is managed by Queensland National Parks and is a classified Historic Area. It was used as a high security prison for 65 years from 1867 to 1932.

Being only 166 hectares in area, it can be explored quite easily. The Island is divided into two Zones by National Parks -

• Unrestricted zone
  The area bounded by the quarry and old tramway up to the southern boundary of the first grazing paddock is unrestricted. There is no fee for use of this area.
• Restricted zone
  All visitors in the restricted zone must be with a guide at all times. The ruins are very fragile and sometimes present safety hazards. There is a fee for guided tours in the restricted zone.

Click here for a EPA Map of St Helena Island showing Restricted and Unrestricted areas.

• There is a Museum displaying artefacts and information relating to the St Helena Island Penal Establishment.
• There are public toilets and shelter areas at the causeway area.
• Please take rubbish with you
• Domestic animals are not permitted in national parks

Accommodation

There is no accommodation on St Helena Island. The island is only suitable for day Trips or for those with cabin boats to moor offshore.

Tours to and around St Helena Island

There are Tours to and around St Helena Island. Check with Brisbane Visitor Information for details.

Local Tour Operators have a great knowledge of their area, So why not experience it with people who know all the best spots.

Whatever your style, you'll find a great Tour to St Helena Island.

Things To See and Do

There are many Things To See and Do on St Helena Island.

Start with a visit to a Visitor Centre where they can help you with your holiday plans.

Brisbane Visitor Information Centre

Queen Street Mall,
Brisbane
Queensland, 4002
Phone 07 300662903
Fax 07 3006 6250
Email: visit@brisbanemarketing.com.au www.visitbrisbane.com.au

Visit the Redlands Bay Tourist Information Centre at Cleveland, where they can help you with your holiday plans.

Redlands on Moreton Bay Visitor Centre

Shop 2, Raby Bay Harbour
152 Shore St West
PO Box 8159
Cleveland
Queensland, 4163
Phone 07 38210057 or 1300 667 386
Fax 07 38213875
Email: explore@more2redlands.com.au
www.more2redlands.com.au

For more information about North Stradbroke Island visit www.straddieonline.com.au

There's plenty to do around St Helena Island.
# Take a walk around the walking trail in the Unrestricted area.
# Swim at the beach near the causeway.
# Fishing and Crabbing are extremely popular around St Helena Island, from the beach, or a boat.
# The mud flats to the south-east at low tide expose a wealth of surprises for the beachcomber.
# Take a Guided tour of the Prison ruins for an insight into the penal and social aspects of the mid 18OO's to early 1900's
# June to November is Whale Watching Season in Moreton Bay. The most common sightings being of Humpback Whales.
# Throughout the year dolphins, turtles and dugong can be seen in Moreton Bay.
# Birdwatching on Moreton Bay islands is very popular, both on the beach and islands and on the water, where migratory species gather each year. .

Local History

St Helena Island was originally intended to be used as a quarantine station, but as Brisbane's gaols became overcrowded, buildings on the island were converted into accommodation for prisoners. Prisoners provided all of the labour on the island, including constructing buildings and roads, growing and producing food, and cooking for the islands inhabitants.
Many buildings were built including two cell blocks, a kitchen, a bakehouse, a hospital, underground water tanks, a jetty, a house for the Islands Superintendent, and stables, boathouse, and a storehouse. A lime kiln and sugar mill were added in 1869, with the growing and processing of Sugar cane used a s away to keep prisoners busy. Once workshops were established prisoners were used for labour such as bootmaking, sail-making, tailoring, saddle-making, tinsmithing, candle making, book-binding and carpentry. The long term prisoners were kept in the workshops inside the prison stockade, while animal husbandry and agriculture was carried out by trustees.
Buildings were made of beachrock quarried on the island, or bricks made on the island from local clay. Some were of timber construction.The buildings were of a typical 19th Century colonial style of architecture. A tramway operated between 1885 and 1932 and provided the first passenger tramcar service in Queensland.
The prison closed in 1932 after 65 years of operation. As early as 1910 the Mayor of Brisbane suggested that St Helena Island be made a national park. In 1925 demolition of the buildings was begun by prisoners and most re-usable materials were taken to the mainland for distribution to other Government institutions. The island was the first historic site to be managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation for its historic values.

Moreton Bay Events Calendar for 2008