North West Island

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Not to be confused with Northwest Island.
North West Island shoreline
North West Island shoreline

North West Island is a coral cay in the southern Great Barrier Reef, located 75 kilometres northeast of Gladstone, Queensland. North West Island forms part of Capricornia Cays National Park and with an area of 1.05 km², the island is the second largest coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef.

The vegetation of the island is dominated by dense Pisonia forest. North West Island is an important nesting ground for seabirds and turtles. Seventy per cent of the total breeding population of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on Australia's east coast nest on the island. The Green Sea Turtle and the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest on the island between November and February.

Guano was mined on North West Island during the 1890s. Turtle soup canneries operated on the island from 1904 to 1914 and 1924 to 1926. The environmental importance of North West Island was recognised when it was included as part of Capricornia Cays National Park in 1994.

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