Peel Island

Peel Island (27°30′S 153°21′E / 27.5°S 153.35°E / -27.5; 153.35) is a small island located in Moreton Bay, east of Brisbane, Queensland, in Australia.

During the mid-19th century Peel Island was used as a quarantine station for the colony of Brisbane. Sailing ships would anchor to the north of the Island, the passengers would disembark on Peel Island for a quarantine period before moving on to Dunwich on nearby North Stradbroke Island. The arriving sailing ships would be fumigated and scrubbed down with cabolic to sanitise them before they ventured on to Brisbane with the new arrivals. Remains of the old quarantine station are at the south west corner of the island where the old well can be found.

Peel Island was used as an asylum for vagrants of Brisbane around the turn of the 20th century but the conditions were too harsh and the inmates were moved to Dunwich on nearby Stradbroke Island. Peel Island was used as a sisal farm, the inmates would harvest the sisal and manufacture rope which was sold to help fund the asylum. Remnants of the sisal plantations are still visible when walking around the western side of the island.

Between 1907 to 1959 the island was a leper colony. Now it is enjoyed by many locals and visitors. The island is only accessible by watercraft. Dugongs, turtles, and dolphins frequent the waters around the island. Often there are thousands of jellyfish following the currents, and sharks are known to inhabit these waters. Horseshoe Bay, with its sandy beach, is popular with boating visitors. It is a popular overnight anchorage for sailors, considered by many to be the best shelter from northerly winds in Moreton Bay. Sea kayakers also use the island for overnight stays. The island is known for its natural beauty, with bird and animal life undisturbed from the pollutions of modern times. Up to 74 bird species have been identified.

In 2007, the island was declared as Teerk Roo Ra National Park and Conservation Park. There are limited facilities in Peel Island, however there is a toilet block. Tracks used when the island was a leper colony can be used to walk across the island. Features worth visiting there is the old leper colony town, located on the north west of the island. The housing there is currently being restored, possibly for school camps, but there is asbestos in some of the housing that was used for indigenous Australians. It is interesting to note that after the island was decommissioned as a leper colony it was discovered that the strain of leprosy was non-contagious.

Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef has been constructed to the north of Peel Island.