Quail Island is an island in the Northern Territory of Australia in the Beagle Gulf about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the territory capital of Darwin.
![]() | This article is missing information about the other five islands in the Quail Group - please refer the NT Atlas and Spatial Data Directory . (May 2019) |
![]() LANDSAT true color image of Quail Island Group, Northern Territory, Australia | |
Geography | |
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Coordinates | 12.519°S 130.435°E / -12.519; 130.435 |
Archipelago | Quail Island Group |
Total islands | 3 |
Administration | |
Australia | |
Territory | Northern Territory |
Region | Top End |
Bay | Beagle Gulf |
Locality | Bynoe Harbour[1] |
Quail Island belongs to the Quail Island Group. The other two islands in the archipelago are Bare Sand Island (southwest of Quail Island) and Djadjalbit Island (south).[2]
The islands are known for being a breeding ground for flatback turtles.[3]
On 9 October 1881 when SS Brisbane, an 85.8 metres long passenger, cargo and mail ship, built by A & J Inglis, Pointhouse, Glasgow, struck the nearby Fish Reef, while heading there with cargo from Hong Kong.[4]
The Quail Island Air Weapons Range was used a training ground for defense forces from 1945 to 1979.[3] There are large munitions scattered around the island as a result. A three-year clean-up began in 2011 to remove hazards such as unexploded ordnance.[5] Visitors such as tourists and recreational anglers have been banned from the islands during the clean-up process.[2]
Islands of the Northern Territory | |
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