Dunk, Queensland

Dunk is an island group locality consisting of the Family Islands in the Coral Sea within the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2] In the 2021 census, Dunk had a population of 23 people.^[1]

Dunk Queensland
Looking from Mount Kootaloo on Dunk Island across to some of the other islands in Dunk, 2009
Dunk
Coordinates	17.9888°S 146.1536°E / -17.9888; 146.1536 (Dunk (centre of locality))
Population	23 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	0.148/km2 (0.385/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4852
Area	154.9 km2 (59.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Cassowary Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Hill Hinchinbrook
Suburbs around Dunk: Wongaling Beach Coral Sea Coral Sea South Mission Beach Dunk Coral Sea Hull Heads Coral Sea Coral Sea

Geography

The named islands within the locality include (from north to south):^[3]

• Mound Island (Purtaboi Island, 17.9253°S 146.1364°E / -17.9253; 146.1364 (Mound Island))^[4]
• Dunk Island (Coonanglebah, 17.9453°S 146.1578°E / -17.9453; 146.1578 (Dunk Island))^[5]
• Mung Um Gnackum Island (17.9511°S 146.1419°E / -17.9511; 146.1419 (Mung Um Gnackum Island))^[6]
• Kumboola Island (17.9555°S 146.1421°E / -17.9555; 146.1421 (Kumboola Island))^[7]
• Wolngarin Island (17.9689°S 146.1808°E / -17.9689; 146.1808 (Wolngarin Island))^[8]
• Thorpe Island (Timana, 17.9821°S 146.1369°E / -17.9821; 146.1369 (Thorpe Island))^[9]
• Bedarra Island (Richards Island, 18.0042°S 146.1486°E / -18.0042; 146.1486 (Bedarra Island))^[10]
• Pee Rahm Ah Island (18.0062°S 146.1583°E / -18.0062; 146.1583 (Pee Rahm Ah Island))^[11]
• Wheeler Island (18.0261°S 146.1667°E / -18.0261; 146.1667 (Wheeler Island))^[12]
• Smith Island (18.0379°S 146.1999°E / -18.0379; 146.1999 (Smith Island))^[13]
• Coombe Island (18.0400°S 146.1772°E / -18.0400; 146.1772 (Coombe Island))^[14]
• Bowden Island (Budg-Joo Island, 18.043°S 146.1972°E / -18.043; 146.1972 (Bowden Island))^[15]
• Hudson Island (Coolah, 18.0503°S 146.2017°E / -18.0503; 146.2017 (Hudson Island))^[16]

Many of the islands are entirely within the Family Islands National Park (from north to south): Mound, Dunk (partially), Mung Um Gnackum, Kumboola, Wolngarin, Pee Rahm Ah Island, Wheeler, Smith, Coombe, Bowden and Hudson.^[17]

History

The locality presumably takes its name from the largest island, Dunk Island.

HMS Paluma arrived in Brisbane on 7 May 1885.^[18] Construction cost 35,000 pounds sterling.^[19] The ship's name was the Aboriginal word for "thunder".^[20] Over the next eight years, Paluma conducted survey work on the Great Barrier Reef for the Admiralty.^[21] The European names of many of the islands reflect the names of the officers on the Paluma: Lieutenant G. Richards, commander; Lieutenants Wheeler, Combe and Bowden-Smith; Dr. Thorpe, surgeon, and Mr. Hudson, engineer.^[22]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Dunk had a population of 21 people.^[23]

In the 2021 census, Dunk had a population of 23 people.^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Dunk. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school.^[24]