Ungowa

A forgotten history – cyclones on the Fraser Coast

Many Australians see tropical cyclones as a northern phenomenon — storms that belong to Cairns, Townsville, or the Kimberley. Yet, the Fraser Coast, stretching from Fraser Island through Hervey Bay to Maryborough, has long been within their path. Cyclones are not uncommon visitors here. In fact, they have shaped our coast, forests and local stories.

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Early communication on the island

Life on Fraser Island was very isolated and lonely before access improved with combustion engines, regular flights, and ferries to transport cars and trucks. Communication was only by boat, telephone, radio, and aeroplane. In the case of accidents, help was six hours away by boat in Maryborough.

The age of telegraphy

The first breakthroughs in communication came with the spread of telegraph technology.

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Wathumba’s Shark Factories – a forgotten history of Fraser Island

A false start: Captain Kent’s grand plans

Many might be surprised to learn that Fraser Island, famous for its pristine beaches and towering sand dunes, was once suggested as the location for a shark factory. Not just once, but on two occasions.

The first proposal came from an unexpected entrepreneur. Captain Herbert C.

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