ATLAS OF AUSTRALIA—li
SkirmUh Poinl^M tliD aouthovu extremity of Bribio Island,
Point Cnrtn-rujht—Heav the woutli of tbe Mooloolali Eiver-
Noom Sead—SontlL of Lngnna Bay.
Dr-uhU blii'ul Point—On the BOUCU siUe of Wide Bay-
W(i,hhj Point—On (ireat Sandy Island, north of the 25th parallel.
Sandy Cape—Xt the uortli cod of Great Ssndy lalaud.
Buriictl. Head—On tlie south side of the enti-ance to the Burnett
Uiver.
B<islard Heud—Sonth of tho 2-l-th parallel.
Capes Capricorn and Ki-ppel—Al the north end of Curtis Island.
Tr.(ii;r Pnrlc P«»t—Near tbo entrance to the river of the samo name.
Capee Manifold and C7iiiifoii—South from Port Bowon.
Cope Townshend—At the north end of the Island of the same name.
Notch Point—North from the entrance to Basin Greet.
Ca2>e Palmerslon^Ia latitude 21" 80' south.
Eay Point—South from JIackay.
Slade and Skoal Poirii«—South from the 21st parallel.
Cnyo Milibortnigh—A short distRneo north from the 21st parallel.
Cape Conway—On the eastern sido of Repulse Bay.
Pioneer, Grimston, and George Poinfs—South of the 20th paiaUel.
Cape Gloucester—EuBt from Port Denison.
Cape Edgiicnmhe—North from Port Denison.
Al.bott Point-On. the east side of Abbott Bay.
Cape Upriart-'East from the mouth of the Burdekin River.
Cu2>e Bowling-green—On the east side of Bowling-green Bay.
Cape Cleveland—Oa the east side of Cleveland Bay.
Eillock Point—Sear tho south end of Hinohinbrook Island.
Cape»' Sandwich and Eichanh—At tho north end of the same island.
Chmp Poi«f—Near the mouth of the >[aria Biver.
Cooper Poi?U—North from the enti-ance to the Johnstone River.
Palmer Point — A shore distance north fi'om the mouth of th(
Jlulgrave River.
Cape ffra/ion—North fi'om the 17th parallel.
Fahe Ciipe—On the oast side of Trinity Harbour.
Island PoMii—North from the entrance to the llowhray River.
Caps Tribulation—Sonth of the lOth parallel.
Cape Bedford—Some distance noi-th from the month of the Endeavou
River.
Cape J'iniieri/—Immediately noi-th of the 15th parallel.
Lookout Point—A short distance north-west fi-om Cape Flattery.
Murdoch Point—Bast from the mouth of the Starcke River.
Bed Point—A Uttle to the east of the entrance to the Jeaouie River.
Barrow Point-On the east side of Ninian Bay,
Cape Melville—A short distance south fi-om the 14th parallel.
Bathurst Head-Ou the east side of Princess Charlotte Bay.
Claremunt Point—At the mouth of the Stewart River.
Cape SidmoiUh—Near the entrance to Nisbet Creek.
Cape Direction—On the east side of Lloyd Bay.
Cape Weymouth—South-east from the bay of the same name.
Fair Cape—Some distance south-east from Temple Bay.
Cape Greaville—Immediately north of the 12th parallel.
Orford iVci»—East of Orford Bay,
Cape York—'iiie most northern point in Queensland, and also
Australia.
Dwjflu:n Poiiii—South fi'om tho mouth of the Coen Rive
Pera Bead—North of the 18th pai-aUel.
Fahe Peru Bead—South of the 18lh parallel.
Cape Kcer ll'Vii—Immediately north of the 14th parallel.
(?£«•<: P o i n t ^ A t tho entrance of Disaster Inlet.
Kangaroo Potiii—Near the mouth of the Leichbardt River.
Thence west-north-west along the remaining portion of the coast
line of the Gulf of Carpentaria to the east boundaiy of the Northern
Territory of South Aastralia are found PoinU Turranl, Parknr, and
Bayly.
Inclentalionsk—The east coast is broken by numerous inlets, formij
in many cases, safe harbours for shipping.
Tho foOowing are the prmcipal :—
Morelon Bay—A largo expanse of water, protected on the east by
Sti-adbroke and Moreton Islands. Bramlk and Decepli
are smaller inlets occurring on its western side.
Lagttna Bay—North of Noosa Head.
Wide Bay—Near the south entrance to the Great Sandy Island
Broad Sound—A h 3uth from the 22ud par
Jiepulse Boj/—West from Cape Coi
Port Denismi,—Near the 20th panillel.
Ahhott Bay—A short distance wi-st from Abbott Point.
Upstart Jin.;/-South-east from the mouth of the Bui-dekin River.
Bowling-ffreeu Bay—Between Capes Bowling-gi-een and Clevela
Cleveland Bay—On tho west side of the cape of the same name.
Ealifate Bay—A large wido indentation near the l!>th parallel,
RocUngham Boi/—Hmchinbi-ook Island bounds it on the south s
ly Bay—A short distance north from the 17lh parallel.
Wtary Jni/—North from Cape Tribulation.
Bntlmrst P«^—West of Cape MeUHlle,
Prinem Charlotte Bay—A large wide inlet west of Bathurst Hi
Lloyd flay—West of Cape Direction.
WeymoTilh Bay—Some distance south from Fair'Cape.
Temple BaySoath of the 12th i)arallel.
ifnrgiirii Bay—Immediately north of Capo Gfrenville.
Shelburne Buy—Wo&t from i targaret Bay.
Orford Poj/—North from Oi-foi-d Ness.
astU Bay—A short distance south from Cape York,
ounding Cape York Peninsula on the west, is the promi
indentation known as the Oitlf of Carpnttaria.
Straits.—On account of the many islands found along the sea be
)its, passages, and channels are numerous. The following
Straii
Rvrvey Bay—Bounded on the east by the no
Sandy Island. Platypus Bay is within ii
Port Curii»—North of the 24th parallel.
Kcppd Bn^—Near the tropic of Capricorn.
Purt Boieen—North from Cape Clinton.'
Shoalicater Bay—Bounded on the east by
Townshend and other Islands.
•th portion of tho Great
•e well
Nwth Entrance, South Passage, Roue Channel, and Boat Passage
—Theso are found in connection with Stradbroke and Moreton
ids, and foi-m the oatlots to the ocean from i loretou Bay.
Stone Channel—A narrow passage between Bi'ibie Island and the
mainland.
Great Sandy Island Straii—A channel of varj-ing width between
Fraxer or Great Sandy Island and the mainland.
I narrow passage commencing at Port Cui'tis on the south, and
extending noith to Koppel Bay, separates Cnrtis and Pacing Islands
from tlie mainland.
Slroi\g Tide PasMge—At the south end of Townshend Island.
Whitminday Passuije—On the west sido of Whitsunday and Hook
Islanc
Port HinchinhrooTc
t h e m
tending north from
,th of the Herbert River to Rockingham Bay, and forming
the west boundary of Hinchinbi-ook Island.
Endeavour 5<raii—Between Prince of Wales Island and Cape York
Peninsula, so named from Captaiu Cook's vessel.
Torres Strait—hying between Austi-alia and New Guinea. Scattered
over its surface are numerous islands, shoals, and coral reefs. It
was named after Torres, the Spanish navigator, who discovered
Cape York in 1605,
Investigator Strati—Separating Bentinck and Sweers Islands. It
received its name from Plindei's' vessel.
Islands, islets, reefs, and shoals are numerous on the east coast of
Queensland. Coral reefs, detached and at varying distances from the
coa.st, are found along almost the whole length of tho seaboard, particularly
in the vicinity of Cape York and Torres Strait, where they
increase the dangers and difficulties of navigation. Some of tho
lai-ger islands add to the security of severnl of the roadsteads, and
aSord shelter to shipping.
The folloOTug may be enumerated :—
8brad}>Toke and Moreton Jsi(in<?s—'J'bese islands form a breakwater on
the east side of iCoreton liay, and pi'otect it from tho waves
of the Pacific. Numerous islets occur in tho channel, between
the former and the mainland.
BriUe Island—At the north end of Moreton Buy.
iVnser or Great Bandy Island—The southern portion of this island is
separated fi-om the mainland by a na^•o^v chaiinsl. The northern
part forms the eastern boundary of Horvey Bay.
Capricorn Group—Low islands, dangerous to shipping on accoitnt of
the broken water in their vicinity. Tlioy lie at some distance
from the coast on both sides of tho southern tropic.
CuHis Island—Immediately south of the tropic of Ca))ricom, forming
tho south-eastern shore of Keppel Bay.
Kcppel Islands—A group north of the bay of the same uame,
Townshend Island—This island and the Cunnihal (rnrnp are situated
at the entrance to Shoalwater Bay.
Thence north to the 21 st panillcl are found the Northwuhn-land,
Percy, Flat, Bevei'lcy, and Prndhuo Groups, and Long and Quail Islands.
Cumberland Isles—A nnmerous and scattei-ed gi-oup, off (.'apes Conway
and Hilsborougb,
Immediately south of the 20th parallel are Whitsuiiday, Hook,
and Hamillon Islands.
• Oloueester Island—West from Ueorge Point.
QUEENSLAND.
Magnetic Island—Neai' the entrance to Cleveland Bay. Its liighest
point reaches an elevation of 1,700 feet above the level of the sea.
Palm North of Halifax Bay.
Einckinhrook Island—South of Rockingham Bay, and separated from
vegetation.
the mainland by a narrow strait.
Dunk Island—mrÚi of the 18th parallel.
Lizard /«¿nriii—About 20 milos from the coast, ofi Lookout Point.
SowifJe (?ro!íí>—North from Murdoch Point.
Flinders Group—At the entrance to Bathurst Bay.
Clajremont Isles—A scattered group north of the 14th parallel.
0£E Cape GrenviUo and Shelburne Bay, and thence noi-tli along the
coast to Cape York, ai'o numerous islands, reefs, and shoals.
In Torres Strait, there are Jervis, Mulgrave, Banks, Puncan, Prince
of Wales, Horn, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Hammond, Goodc. and
• Booby Islands.
Near the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria aro the Wellcslcy, Allen,
Bentinck, and iSweer« Islands.
PHYSICAL FEATURES—Tho surface of Queensland presents three
well-defined physical aspects, the effects of which are evident in its
climate and vegetable life. Extending west, from the eastern seaboard,
there is a comparatively narrow strip of laud, bounded towai-ds the
interior by the Coast Ranges, and in some places by the Dividing
Chain, over which the winds of the ocoan have free scope. This
part of the colony is of varying width, according to the position
of the mountains, and possesses all the humidity of atmosphere found
to obtain in insular climates. A large portion of Cape York Peninsula
may be included ivithin the coast tei'ritory, and for some distance
inland from the shores of the Gulf of Cai-pentaria, the influence
of the sea is noticeable in the climate anc
On the inland side of the Coast District
iug some elevation. This Tableland, which extends south
South Wales, has a width at tbe common boundary of the two colonies
of over 100 miles. It coincides closely \rith the direction of the
Great Dividing Chain, and towards the north, becomes gradually
narrower and of less elevation, until at last it merges into the plains
and low lands of Cape York Peninsula, and the level country southeast
h'om the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is wedge-shaped, its base
extending south iuto New South Wales. The slope on both sides
is generally of a gradual and almost imperceptible character. West
fi'om Rockhampton, near the souree of the Belyaudo River it has an
elevation of over 1,300 feet above the level of the sea. Some of tho
finest pastoral lauds in the colony are found in various portions of
the Tableland. It forms vast npland plains in some places, known as
dmcn^, in other parts, it is crossed by ridges and spurs from the
Dividing Chain, giving rise to the numerous streams which collect
the waters of the rivers flowing east into the Pacific, west and northwest,
into the Gulf of Carpentaria, or south-west to the Dailing.
The Great Dividing Chain forms the culminating line throughout
its entire extent north and south.
The south-west portion of tlie colony consists for the most part, of
lilains, traversed in some places by low sandstone ridges. On the
lower coui-ses of the Thomson and Bai-coo Rivers are immense tracts
of country covered with polygonum and other scrubs, aud liabli
inundation. Low sandhills are found in other portions of this
area. Near the sources of the various streams flowing south-west into
the adjoining colony of South Australia, the knd is of a better
descript>on, prodncinggi-ass, and being well suited to pastoral purposes.
In some portions of the interior, however, thei'e is little else but
J be found to represent the vegetable kingdom.
5d «-ith it« vast surface, the mountains of
arkable cither for their extent or elevation,
as indeed to that of the whole of Eastern
the Gi'eat Dividing Range, which traverses it fr-om north
to south at a distance from the Pacilic coast varying ft-om a few wiles
at the northern extremity to over 200 mües between the 21st and 24th
parallels. Spurs from this cordillera branch out at various points on
both sides, and dive.-sify the surface far into the plains on the west
and in some instances, to the margin of the ocean, on the east, '
In close proximity to the sea-coast, aud, for the most part running,
paaullel to it, are several ranges of a less prominent character
mam chain. On account of their position these
— ' Ranges.
Queensland ai
T!>o key to ii
Aiistralia, is t
generally that
As has
thorn are.
cuously, i
comparativi
n found to be the other : portions of Australia,
s parts of Queensland, but perhaps more conspisea,
mountains which stand alone, rising from
ve\y level areas, and not connected, appai^ently, with either
wa cuutral or coast systems.
With the exception oi
Dividing Range, there ar.
cally, in the interior of Qi
ingos branching west fi'om the Great
inataius of any importance geographind.
The saud-ridge,s i " "
Plains in some places are not numerous, and are of
»levation. These do not give rise to rivei's, but in not
ibsorb the watei-s of tho streams passing neai- them, i
« disappear. Notable examples of this are seen in soj
ifliuents of Coc^ei-'s Creek,
From the foregoing considerations it will be ev that I
mountains of Qneonsland fall iiatnratly into three classes.
1. Great Dividing Range aud its lateral ranges.
2. Coast Sauges.
3. Isolated Mountains.
GREAT DmwxG BASGB.—This cordillera takes its rise in Cape
York Peninsula,, near the northern extremity, and is not prominent on
account of its elevation. It Ues close to the eastern coast, and, in this
part, gives a uorth-westerly course to the waters of the Jardine
River, causing them to flow into the Gulf of Carpentaria. Tho
source of the Jardine is less than 7 miles from tho eastern seaboard,
but the wes tcm slope of the Dividing Chain detei-mines for it a coui-so
in the opposite direction. It reaches the Gulf of Carpentaria after
floiring a distance of over 80 miles. South from Orford Bay, which
the Dividing Chain approaches ivithin a few miles, it is known as
Richardson's Range, Between the 12th and igth parallels, it has
a general direction to the south-east, and receives the name Sir
Here small tablelands are formed, sloping
'St, while on tho east, there is a terraced apispicuons
among tho underlying rocks. The
on of this formation, has, in tho course
iding elîect of water, resulted in the flateable.
From the souree of the Pascoe River,
very gently towards the
pearance. Sandstoneisccomparatively
easy detri
of ages, through the dei
topped charactei
11 stretches south beyond the 14th parallel, giving rise to short rivers
on the eastei-n side, aud much longer streams on tho western slope
This portion has been called the McIIwraith Range. South from tho
source of the Stewart River, its distance fi-om the eastern seaboard
becomes somewhat increased. Beyond the 15th parallel it turns
more to the east, and rapidly approaches the coast. In the vicinity
of Port Douglas, the distance fi-om the Pacific seaboard does not
exceed 7 miles. It gives rise, in this part, to the various streams
which collect the head waters of the Mitchell River. South to the
source of the Barron River, a southerly direction is maintained.
Prom this point, to ivithin a short distance of the 20th parallel, it
recedes fi'om the coast. At the source of Clarke River, a tributaiy of
theBui-dekin, the main ohaintui-nstothesouth-east ,andkeepsa position
closely parallel to the coast line, at a distance of 150 to 200 miles
therefrom. Immediately south of the 25th parallel it makes a sliarp
turn to the east-north-east, expanding into a broad level tract called
Buokland's Tableland as it cm'ves once more to the south-southeast.
Beyond the 2dth parallel the direction becomes almost east.
Approaching the l-51st meridian, it forms an obtuse angle, and
assumes a coui-so to the south-east, preserving that dirootion until
lorth boundary of the colony of Now South Wales is reached.
3 are names bestowed
west-son th-west, and
in a short distance of
erses New South Wales. 'J'he
.rying, foi- the most part, fi^om
which c.
Craig's Range aud the Buuyi
on this portion of the chain. Tu
then south, it separates the two
the 20th parallel, after which it
Dividing Chaiu attains an elevatioi
2,000 to 8,000 feet, with summits, in some places, rising to
gi-eater altitude. The heights of the following peaks have been
ascertained:—Mount Jlowbullom, 3,040 feet; Monnt Cordeaux, .t,100
feet; Mount Mitchell, 3,828 feet ; Mount Huntley, -l.,153; and Mount
Leshe, 2,08-8 feet.
The Diwding Chain, at various points in its whole length, gives
rise to spurs. These are not numerous, but they extend for a
considerable distance east and west from the central culminating line.
The Lateral Ranges on the eastern side, in many cases, approach the
Pacific seaboard; in others, they intersect the Coast Ranges, and
become deflected. Those travei-sing the plains of the interior separate
the basins of the numerous streams running north iuto the Gulf of
Carpentaria, south-west into South Australia, or south towards tho
Darling River.
Near the IGth parallel there is
the west; it possesses little eleval
of the Palmer and Mitchell Riven
,n offshoot from the
n, but separates the ipper waters
A short distance south from tl
Gregory Range. This spur has, at first, a westerly di
of the Einasleigh River is
which subsequently changes to north-west. It separates the tributaries
.f the Noi-man River from those of the Gilbert.
Between the 20th and 21st jmrallels, a range branches off to the
outh-west, which afterwai-ds spreads out into high, open downs.
Near the source of the Hamilton River it resumes its mountainous
character, and is known as Kirb/s Range. West of the 141st
meridian, it throws off a small spur to the north, called tho JIcKinlav