Coochiemudlo Island is a small island in the southern part of Moreton Bay, near Brisbane, in South East Queensland, Australia.[2] It is also the name of the locality upon the island, which is within the local government area of Redland City, but the town is called Coochie.[3][4]
| Coochiemudlo Island Moreton Bay, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Main beach on Coochiemudlo island with Victoria Point in the background | |||||||||||||||
  Coochiemudlo Island | |||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 27°34′21″S 153°19′49″E / 27.5725°S 153.3302°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 850 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 207/km2 (537/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4184 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 4.1 km2 (1.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Redland City | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Redlands | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Bowman | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
There is no road access to the island, which is a 2.0-kilometre (1.2 mi) ferry ride from the jetty at Victoria Point, which is in turn 12.4 kilometres (7.7 mi) south-east of Cleveland and 36.3 kilometres (22.6 mi) east-south-east of the Brisbane CBD.[5]
In the 2021 census, Coochiemudlo Island had a population of 850 people.[1]
Geography
editThe island covers a total area of 4.1 km2 (1.6 square miles) and is approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Victoria Point, Coochiemudlo Island is also in Redland City. A natural cliff composed of iron-rich rock is exposed on the south western side of the island. Sandy beaches wrap around the island's southern, eastern and northern sides. Mangroves cover the western foreshore of the island.[citation needed]
History
editThe name Coochiemudlo is the English language version of the Yuggera words kutchi (meaning red) and mudlo (meaning stone).[2]
The British explorer Matthew Flinders landed on Coochiemudlo Island on 19 July 1799, while he was mapping the southern part of Moreton Bay.[6] The original European name was Innis Island from 1825 to 1850.[2] The island celebrates Flinders Day annually, commemorating the landing of Flinders. The celebrations are usually held on a weekend near 19 July, the actual date of the landing.[7]
Demographics
editIn the 2006 census, Coochiemudlo Island had a population of 658 people. Over 43% were more than 54 years old. Of families 58.2% were couples without children. The most common responses for religious affiliation were "No Religion" at 24.2% which is well above the Australian average of 18.7%. 269 said that they were in the workforce and 60% were in full-time occupations while 28% were working part-time. Only 5% of the island's workforce said they were unemployed. The major areas of employment were Hospitals, Local Government Administration, Other Social Assistance Services, Residential Care Services and Building Completion Services. The median weekly household income was $616, compared with $1,027 in Australia.[8]
In the 2011 census, Coochiemudlo Island had a population of 708 people, 52.7% female and 47.3% male. The median age of the Coochiemudlo Island population was 52 years, 15 years above the national median of 37. 67.8% of people living in Coochiemudlo Island were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 7.8%, New Zealand 6.1%, Germany 1%, Croatia 1%, Philippines 0.7%. 88% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 0.6% German, 0.6% Indonesian, 0.6% Serbian, 0.4% Dutch, 0.4% Swedish.[9]
In the 2016 census, Coochiemudlo Island had a population of 753 people.[10]
In the 2021 census, Coochiemudlo Island had a population of 850 people.[1]
Education
editThere are no schools on Coochiemudlo Island. The nearest government primary and secondary schools are Victoria Point State School and Victoria Point State High School, both in Victoria Point. There are also other non-government schools in Victoria Point.[11]
Transport and services
editThe island is serviced by a passenger ferry, operating approximately every half-hour between about 5:00am and 11:00pm. A vehicular barge also operates regular services to and from the island. Due to the relatively small area, a car is not essential for getting around.[12]
The island's community hub, Curlew Café, is a BYO cafe situated not far from the jetty, providing breakfasts, lunches and occasional Friday night dinners, essentials (groceries, meat, ice creams, newspapers). The island also has a licensed restaurant, known as Oasis on Coochiemudlo.[13]
A range of accommodation options are available including Seminara Apartments,[14] airbnb[15] and holiday homes.[citation needed]
The island's newspaper, the Coochie Island News, was established in February 2019 and has a readership of approximately 3,000 in print and online.[16] Its mission is to publish inspiring and positive content that showcases the island's strengths and its pages feature news, articles, fishing and boating reports and stories, health/wellbeing articles, poetry and book reviews written by island contributors, as well as interviews with creatives and island residents. It includes a business directory and directory of community activities, groups and their contacts. Its last edition was January 2023.
A podcast featuring interviews with island residents, experts on island life and Australia's demographer Bernard Salt was launched in 2020.[17][18]
Wildlife
editThere are many types of wildlife on the island, with its birdlife including sea eagles, brahmany kites, magpies, rosellas, butcher birds, pheasant coucals and a colony of stone curlews which are counted each year.[19]
The waters around Coochiemudlo contain dugongs, turtles and dolphins.[20]
There is a walk through the Melalueca Wetland Reserve with its variety of native plants and trees.[citation needed]
A fauna survey was conducted there in 2016.[21]
Amenities
editCoochiemudlo community hall is a public hall is at 346 Victoria Parade (27°34′27″S 153°19′24″E / 27.5742°S 153.3233°E).[22]
Pineridge Chapel conducts their services at 11 Shirley Street. Their mission is to be a church that brings Christ's healing, wholeness and restoration to all people who call upon the name of the Lord. (27°34′17″S 153°20′02″E / 27.5713°S 153.3338°E);.[23] It is part of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.[24][25]
There is a boat ramp at Tageruba Street on the south side of the island (27°34′28″S 153°19′47″E / 27.5745°S 153.3297°E). It is managed by the Redland City Council.[26] Vehicular ferries use the boat ramp.
There is a jetty and pontoon in Elizabeth Street on the south side of island (27°34′29″S 153°19′56″E / 27.5746°S 153.3322°E). It is managed by the Redland City Council.[26] Passenger ferries use the jetty.
Facilities
editCoochiemudlo has some emergency services:
- Coochiemudlo Island Fire Station (27°34′09″S 153°20′01″E / 27.5692°S 153.3335°E)[27][22]
- Coochiemudlo Ambulance Station (27°34′24″S 153°19′33″E / 27.5733°S 153.3258°E)[27]
Attractions
editEast Coochie Reef is a 15.2-hectare (38-acre) artificial reef in the Moreton Bay Marine Park (27°34′09″S 153°21′05″E / 27.5693°S 153.3515°E).[28]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Coochiemudlo Island (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Coochiemudlo Island – island in Redland City (entry 8015)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Coochiemudlo Island – locality in Redland City (entry 43640)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Coochie – town in Redland City (entry 8016)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Victoria Point Jetty" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Coochiemudlo Island". About Redlands. Redland City Council. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ "Flinders Day on Coochie". Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Coochiemudlo Island (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Coochiemudlo Island (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Coochiemudlo Island (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Coochiemudlo Island · Coochiemudlo Island QLD 4184, Australia". Coochiemudlo Island · Coochiemudlo Island QLD 4184, Australia. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ "Oasis on Coochiemudlo". Mysite. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Seminara Apartments". coochiemudloislandseminaraapartments.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Coochiemudlo Island Holiday Rentals & Homes - Coochiemudlo Island, Australia | Airbnb". Airbnb. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Coochie Island News". Coochie Island News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Podcast". Coochie Island News. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Bernard Salt AM". Bernard Salt AM. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ Cornwall, Nikki (23 April 2017). "Bird-watching on Coochiemudlo Island". Coochiemudlo Island. Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "Visit Coochiemudlo | Beautiful wildlife". visit-coochie. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ Green, Ronda J. (2016). "Final Report: Melaleuca Wetlands, Coochiemudlo Island, Fauna Survey" (PDF). Coochiemudlo Island Coast Care. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Building points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Coochie Community Family Church". Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "South Queensland". Wesleyan Methodist Church Australia. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Pineridge Chapel Coochiemudlo Island". Facebook. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Emergency services facilities - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Artificial reef sites - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
