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Coral Sea Islands

Coordinates: 19°05′27″S 150°54′06″E / 19.09083°S 150.90167°E / -19.09083; 150.90167
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coral Sea Islands Territory
Flag of Australia, used for the Coral Sea Islands[1]
Geography
LocationCoral Sea
Total islands8
Major islandsCato Island, Willis Island
Administration
Demographics
Population4[n 1] (2018)

The Coral Sea Islands Territory is an external territory of Australia which comprises a group of small and mostly uninhabited tropical islands and reefs in the Coral Sea, north-east of Queensland, Australia. The only inhabited island is Willis Island. The territory covers 780,000 km2 (301,160 sq mi), most of which is ocean, extending east and south from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef and includes Heralds Beacon Island, Osprey Reef, the Willis Group and fifteen other reef and island groups. Cato Island is the highest point in the Territory.[2]

Acropora coral garden with giant clam. Raging Horn, Coral Sea Islands

History and status

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Early history

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Map of the Coral Sea Islands, not including Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs

The Coral Sea Islands were first charted in 1803. In the 1870s and 1880s, the islands were mined for guano but the absence of a reliable supply of fresh water prevented long-term habitation.[2]

Jurisdiction over offshore islands in the Coral Sea was historically unclear. In 1900, letters patent issued by the British government included within the boundary of the colony of New South Wales all islands in the Coral Sea west of the 154th meridian east that were not otherwise part of the Colony of Queensland or British New Guinea. There was little activity in the islands, but a wireless station was erected by the Australian federal government on Willis Island in 1922. Minutes prepared by the Department of Defence and Department of External Affairs suggested that the Coral Sea Islands had been made British possessions by virtue of James Cook's proclamation of sovereignty in 1770, but "that there were certain islets and reefs in the Coral Sea that were British possessions but not part of the Commonwealth, and some were shown not to be in the possession of any nation".[3]

In the 1950s, the Australian government began a review of its maritime boundaries in line with the evolving definitions of continental shelf later formalised in Convention on the Continental Shelf. The federal cabinet resolved to assert federal jurisdiction over the Coral Sea islands in 1957, but action was delayed by continued uncertainty over whether islands were already part of the states of New South Wales and Queensland, or attached to the British Solomon Islands, and therefore needed those jurisdictions' approval.[4] In 1967, following discussions with state governments over the proposed sea and submerged lands legislation, Attorney-General Nigel Bowen proposed that the federal government should unilaterally annex the islands, "on the basis that they have already become Commonwealth territory as a result of the Commonwealth’s own previous and sufficient exercise of authority in relation to them".[5]

In August 1968, the Australian government requested and received confirmation from the United Kingdom that it did not claim "any right or interest" over specified islands in the Coral Sea between the 154th and 158th meridian east and that it recognised Australian sovereignty over those islands. This resolved any jurisdictional issues over the "outer" Coral Sea islands.[6]

Federal territory

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The Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 was passed by the Parliament of Australia and received royal assent on 2 September 1969, coming into force on 30 September 1969. The act established the specific islands as a separate Australian external territory under the name "Coral Sea Islands Territory" and provided for the federal government to enact ordinances in line with other territories.[7] The Supreme Court of Norfolk Island was given jurisdiction over the islands,[8] while the laws of the Australian Capital Territory were applied to the territory by an "application of laws" ordinance in 1973.[9]

The Coral Sea Islands is the only Australian external territory not created by transfer from the United Kingdom or by the mandate of the United Nations.[10] Defence is the responsibility of Australia, and the territory is visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy. The territory's FIPS 10-4 code is CR, whereas ISO 3166 includes it in Australia (AU).[citation needed]

In 1997, the Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 was amended to include Elizabeth Reef and Middleton Reef within the territory. These reefs are nearly 800 kilometres (500 mi) to the south of the other islands, much closer to the island of Lord Howe Island which is part of New South Wales. They had been excluded from the initial act as the Attorney-General's Department considered they could "not reasonably be regarded as being included in the International Law Commission's definition of the continental shelf", although some sources had previously considered them as part of New South Wales. In 1986, the government had received advice that the reefs should be considered "territory otherwise acquired by the Commonwealth" under section 122 of the constitution and in 1987 declared them to be a marine national nature reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975.[11]

In June 2004, a symbolic political protest run by gay rights activists based in Australia declared the Coral Sea Islands to be a sovereign micronation. On 17 November 2017, the same group declared the kingdom to be "dissolved", following the results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.[12]

Administration and activities

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The territory is administered from Canberra. Previously, it was administered by the Attorney-General's Department[13] and the Department of Transport and Regional Services.[14]

Australia maintains automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs, and claims a 200-nautical-mile (370 km) exclusive fishing zone. There is no economic activity (except for a significant but as yet unquantified charter fishing and diving industry), and only a staff of three or four people to run the meteorological station on Willis Island (South Islet), established in 1921.[15] In November 2011, the Australian government announced that a 989,842-square-kilometre (382,180 sq mi) protected area was planned in the Coral Sea.[16]

Geography

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The territory incorporates about 30 separate reefs and atolls, twelve being wholly submerged or drying only during low tide. The 18 atolls and reefs with land above the high water mark contain a total of about 51 islets and cays (with 18 alone on the atoll Lihou Reef), some of which are vegetated. The atolls exhibit a wide range of size, from a few kilometres in diameter to perhaps the second largest atoll in the world by total area (including lagoon): Lihou Reef, with a lagoon size of 100 by 30 kilometres (62 by 19 miles) and an area of 2,500 square kilometres (970 square miles), which compares to a combined land area of the 18 individual islets of only 0.91 square kilometres (0.35 square miles).[citation needed] The islands are all very low.

The Willis Islets are important nesting areas for birds and turtles, but contain negligible natural resources. They comprise less than three square kilometres (1.2 square miles) of land. There is no port or harbour, only offshore anchorage.

Most of the atolls fall into two groups, while Mellish Reef to the east, Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef to the south are grouped separately:

Northwestern Group

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  1. Osprey Reef (submerged atoll roughly oval in shape, measuring 25 by 12 kilometres (15.5 by 7.5 miles), covering around 195 square kilometres (75 square miles), with lagoon up to 30 metres (98 feet) deep)
  2. Shark Reef (small elongated submerged reef 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) south of Osprey Reef, with a minimum depth of 7.8 metres (25.6 feet))
  3. Bougainville Reef (small submerged atoll, 2.5 by 4 kilometres (1.6 by 2.5 miles), area 8 square kilometres (3.1 square miles) with lagoon, dries at half tide)
  4. East Holmes Reef (submerged atoll, about 14 by 10 kilometres (8.7 by 6.2 miles), area 125 square kilometres (48 square miles) with lagoon)
  5. West Holmes Reef (submerged atoll 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) east of East Holmes Reef, about 18 by 7 kilometres (11.2 by 4.3 miles), area 125 square kilometres (48 square miles) with lagoon that is open on the West side, two small cays)
  6. Flora Reef (small submerged atoll, 5 by 4 km, about 12 square kilometres (4.6 square miles))
  7. Diane Bank (sunken atoll, depths of less than 10 m over an area of 65 by 25 km, or 1,300 square kilometres (500 square miles), along the northern edge 3 m deep, with Sand Cay in the Northwest, 3 m high)
  8. North Moore Reef (small submerged atoll, 4 by 3 km, area 8 square kilometres (3.1 square miles) including lagoon that is open on the Northwest side)
  9. South Moore Reef (small submerged reef 5 km South of North Moore Reef)
  10. Willis Islets (sunken atoll, bank 45 by 19 km, bank area more than 500 square kilometres (190 square miles), 3 islets on the Northwestern side: North Cay, Mid Islet almost 8 m high, South Islet or Willis Island 10 m high)
  11. Magdelaine Cays & Coringa Islets (one large, partially sunken atoll structure, almost 90 by 30 km, bank area about 1,500 square kilometres (580 square miles)), 2 islets of the Magdelaine Cays in the North: North West Islet (area approximately 0.2 square kilometres (0.1 square miles)) and South East Cay (area 0.37 square kilometres (0.14 square miles)); 2 islets of the Coringa Islets 50 to 60 km further Southwest: Southwest Islet or Coringa Islet (area 0.173 km2), and Chilcott Islet (area 0.163 km2)
  12. Herald Cays, Northeast Cay (encircled by a reef of 3 by 3 km, total area 6 km2, land area 0.34 km2)
  13. Herald Cays, Southwest Cay (4 km Southwest of Northeast Cay, encircled by a reef of 2 by 2 km, total area 3 km2, land area 0.188 km2)
  14. Lihou Reef and Cays (largest atoll in the coral sea, with a size of 2500 km2, land area 0.91 km2)
  15. Diamond Islets & Tregosse Reefs (large, partially sunken atoll, 100 by 52 km, area of the bank over 3000 km2, with 4 islets and 2 small submerged reefs in the Northeast and Southeast: West Diamond Islet, Central Diamond Islet, East Diamond Islet on the Northeastern rim of the former atoll, and South Diamond Islet, East Tregosse Reef and West Tregosse Reef on the Southern rim)
  16. North Flinders Reef (large atoll, 34 by 23 km, area 600 km2, with 2 islets, Flinders Cay being the larger one with a length of 200 m and a height of 3 m)
  17. South Flinders Reef (atoll, 15 by 5 km, 60 km2)
  18. Herald's Surprise (small submerged reef North of Flinders Reefs, 3 by 2 km)
  19. Dart Reef (small submerged reef Northwest of Flinders Reefs, 3 by 3 km, area 6 km2 including small lagoon that is open to the North)
  20. Malay Reef (small submerged reef, not clearly defined, no breakers, difficult to see)
  21. Abington Reef (submerged reef, nearly awash, 4 by 2.5 km, area 7 km2)
  22. Marion Reef (Large circular atoll formation that is composed of three main units located on the Eastern side: Marion, Long and Wansfell; and a number of smaller reefs on the west. The formation sits atop a submarine feature known as the Marion Plateau which is separated from the larger Coral Sea Plateau to the north by the Townsville Trough. Three small sand cays are located on the eastern side of Marion Reef: Paget Cay, on Long Reef, Carola Cay, south of Long Reef, and Brodie Cay, on Wansfell Reef.)
A pair of grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and divers in blue water. North Horn, Coral Sea Islands

The atolls of the Northwestern Group, except Osprey Reef and Shark Reef in the north, and Marion Reef in the south, are located on the Coral Sea Plateau (Queensland Plateau), a contiguous area of depths less than 1000 m.

  • Flinders Reefs (North and South), Herald's Surprise and Dart Reef form a cluster of reefs of 66 by 26 km.
  • Magdelaine Cays, Coringa Islets and Herald Cays are part of the 8856 km2 Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve, created on 16 August 1982 and located around 400 km east of Cairns and 220 to 320 km from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. The 6 islets of the nature reserve have areas from 0.16 to 0.37 km2, for a total of 1.24 km2.
  • Lihou Reef was declared a Nature Reserve on 16 August 1982, with an area of 8440 km2.

The Nature Reserves were created to protect wildlife in the respective areas of the territory; together they form the Coral Sea Reserves Ramsar Site.

Mellish Reef

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Beacon erected on Mellish Reef in the Coral Sea in 1859
  1. Mellish Reef, being about 300 km to the east of the Northwestern Group, thus the most distant from the Australian continent of all the reefs and atolls of the Coral Sea Islands Territory, is not considered to be part of any group. It has the outline of a boomerang-shaped platform around 10 km in length and 3 km across, area 25 km2. The surrounding reefs, which enclose a narrow lagoon, are completely submerged at high tide. Near the centre of the lagoon is the only permanent land of the reef – Heralds-Beacon Islet. The island is a small cay measuring 600 m by 120 m, area 57,000 m2, only rising a few ms above the high-water mark.[17] The reef was discovered and named by Captain Alexander Bristow in the whaling ship Thames on 5 April 1812. The French aviso Duroc wrecked on the reef on 16 August 1856. HMS Herald erected the first beacon on the cay, using wreckage from Duroc.

Southeasterly Group

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  1. Frederick Reefs: The reefs form a semi-enclosed lagoon, known as Anchorage Sound, with an opening on the North side. The complex measures about 10 by 4 km, with an area of 30 km2. On the southern side of the reef lies Observatory Cay, the only permanently dry land, although there are a few of others cays that can be awash at high tide.
  2. Kenn Reefs, submerged atoll of about 15 by 8 km, area 40 km2, islet Observatory Cay in the Southeast, 2 m high
  3. Saumarez Reefs, southernmost reefs to be located on the Coral Sea Shelf; three main reefs and numerous smaller reefs that form a large crescent-shaped formation open to the northwest, about 27 by 14 km, area less than 300 km2. There are two sand cays: North East Cay and South West Cay.
  4. Wreck Reefs: atoll 25 by 5 km, area 75 km2, open on the North. Islets found on the reefs include Bird Islet, West Islet and Porpoise Cay.
  5. Cato Reef: Cato bank 21 by 13 km, area 200 km2 of depths less than 17 m; Cato Reef encircles an area of 3.3 by 1.8 km, area 5 km2 including lagoon; Cato Island, in the West of the lagoon, 650 by 300 m, area 0.15 km2, 6 m high. Close to the Southeast corner of Cato bank is Hutchison Rock, with 1 m depth over. Cato Island is the highest point in the Territory.

Extreme South

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Elizabeth and Middleton reefs, together with reefs around Lord Howe Island (New South Wales) 150 km to the south, are regarded as the southernmost coral reefs in the world.[18] Their location, where tropical and temperate ocean currents meet, contributes to an unusually diverse assemblage of marine species. These mostly submerged atolls, which dry only during low tide, were added to the territory in 1989. They are located on the Lord Howe Rise. On 23 December 1987, they were protected as the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve, which has an area of 1,880 km2.

  1. Elizabeth Reef, atoll about 8.2 km by 5.5 km, area 51 km2 including lagoon, one islet: Elizabeth Island (Elizabeth Cay), no vegetation, 600 m by 400 m (area 0.2 km2), highest point 0.8 m. At low tides, much of the reef flat is exposed.
  2. Middleton Reef, atoll about 8.9 km by 6.3 km, area 37 km2 including lagoon, one islet: The Sound, 100 m by 70 m (area 5,000 m2), highest point 1.5 m (close to the northern end). At low tides, much of the reef flat is exposed.

Overview of islets and cays

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Complex Type Islets/cays
West Holmes Reef Atoll 2
Diane Bank Atoll (mostly sunken) Diane Bank Cay
Willis Group Atoll (partially sunken) South Islet (Willis Island), Mid Islet, North Cay
Magdelaine Cays and Coringa Islets Atoll (partially sunken) Northwest Islet, Southeast Cay, Southwest, Chilcott Islets
Herald Cays (North) Reef Northwest Cay
Herald Cays (South) Reef Southeast Cay
Lihou Reef and Cays Atoll 18
Diamond Islands and Tregosse Reefs Atoll (partially sunken) West Diamond, Central Diamond, East Diamond, Southwest Diamond Islets
Flinders Reefs (North) Atoll Flinders, Main, Victoria Cays
Marion Reef Atoll Paget, Carola, Brodie Cays
Mellish Reef Atoll Heralds-Beacon Islet
Frederick Reefs Atoll Observatory Cay
Kenn Reef Atoll Observatory Cay
Saumarez Reef Atoll Northeast, Southwest Cays
Wreck Reef Atoll Bird, West Islets, Porpoise Cay
Cato Reef Atoll Cato Island
Middleton Reef Atoll The Sound
Elizabeth Reef Atoll Elizabeth Island
Total number of islands/cays 51
A male spotted parrotfish on North Horn, Osprey Reef

Man-made structures

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Automatic, unmanned weather stations are located on the following reefs or atolls:

  • Bougainville Reef
  • Cato Island
  • Flinders Reef (Flinders Coral Cay)
  • Frederick Reef
  • Holmes Reef
  • Lihou Reef (Turtle Islet)
  • Marion Reef
  • Moore Reef

Lighthouses are located on following reefs or islands:

  • Bougainville Reef
  • East Diamond Islet
  • Frederick Reefs
  • Lihou Reef
  • Saumarez Reef

Willis Island, the only inhabited island, has a number of structures.

Further information: Willis Island § Current infrastructure

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The symbols of other territories of Australia". www.pmc.gov.au. Australian Government. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b Geoscience Australia. Coral Sea Islands Archived 21 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Kerr 2009, pp. 365–367.
  4. ^ Kerr 2009, pp. 369–370.
  5. ^ Kerr 2009, pp. 371–372.
  6. ^ Kerr 2009, p. 374.
  7. ^ Kerr 2009, pp. 374–376.
  8. ^ Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 (Cth) s 8 Courts having jurisdiction in the Territory
  9. ^ Application of Laws Ordinance 1973 (Coral Sea Islands) (Cth).
  10. ^ "Coral Sea Islands". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  11. ^ Kerr 2009, pp. 377–378.
  12. ^ Kaye, Kimberly (26 December 2022). "When the Gay Kingdom of The Coral Sea put queer sovereignty on the map". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  13. ^ First Assistant Secretary, Territories Division (30 January 2008). "Territories of Australia". Attorney-General's Department. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008. The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General's Department administers Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Jervis Bay, and Norfolk Island as Territories.
  14. ^ Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. "Territories of Australia". Archived from the original on 16 December 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2008. As part of the Machinery of Government Changes following the Federal Election on 29 November 2007, administrative responsibility for Territories has been transferred to the Attorney General's Department.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Australia plans huge marine reserve in Coral Sea". BBC News. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  17. ^ "Oceandots.com". Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  18. ^ "Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Guide (Lord Howe Marine Park)" (PDF). Australian Marine Parks. Australian Government Director of National Parks. p. 2. Retrieved 18 January 2026.

Sources

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Notes

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  1. ^ No permanent population; weather monitoring station on Willis Island generally has four staff.
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19°05′27″S 150°54′06″E / 19.09083°S 150.90167°E / -19.09083; 150.90167

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