Magnetic Island is an island situated just off the coast of Australia. It is approximately 5 miles away from Queensland, Australia, and the closest major city is called Townsville. The island is very small, measuring only 20 square miles in size. It is situated in Cleveland Bay and is effectively a suburb of Townsville, Australia. The island has become a popular tourist destination, with a significant portion of the island consisting of hotels, restaurants, and resorts. The island is technically considered a suburb of Townsville, so there is a sizable permanent population that lives on the island itself.
There are plenty of reasons why people like visiting this island. For example, some people like to check out the World War 2 forts that used to be active there. During the war, there were some significant concerns that the Japanese would try to invade Australia. Therefore, Australia built some forts on Magnetic Island to try to keep the Japanese out. In addition, there is a very large National Park and bird sanctuary on the island. As a result, this is a popular destination for people who want to check out some of the plants and animals in the area. There are even walking tracks to help people find their way from exhibit to exhibit. Finally, there are lots of resorts where people can relax in the sun and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Magnetic Island is a suburb of Townsville, Australia. Therefore, there are a few thousand people who live there throughout the entire year. It is home to approximately 2,300 permanent residents. On the island, there are five separate settlements. They include Arcadia, Horseshoe Bay, Nelly Bay, Picnic Bay, and West Point. In addition, there are a fair number of tourists who come and visit the island every year, so the number of people on the island at any given time is significantly higher than 2,300. It is relatively easy to get to the island from Townsville and Nelly Bay by ferry.
Before the development of Australia itself, the island was populated by indigenous people. Before the arrival of the British, Aborigines lived on the island and explored the area. There were seasonal camps located at a number of bays around the island, and they frequently traveled between the island and Mainland Australia using canoes. It has been rumored that there are some burial sites for Aborigines located on the island, but they have not yet been discovered. The first European settlers to visit the area arrived in the mid-19th century, which is when Townsville was founded. The area grew quickly because it was a popular site for gathering granite and hoop pine. This contributed to economic development in Queensland itself, and as Townsville grew in size, the number of people living on Magnetic Island increased as well.