Science on the Great Barrier Reef

Recently donated to the State Library of Queensland is a brief unpublished report on a scientific expedition to the Low Isles in 1954.

The document contains the recollections of John Bristow, then a young undergraduate industrial chemist. A highlight of the report, and also available digitally, are a number of wonderful photographs of the expedition. These images capture the natural beauty of the Low Isles as well as the spirit of adventure among the team, not to mention the rough and ready nature of the expedition.

The Low Isles are made up of two islands – Woody Island and Low Island – and sit about 25km north-east of Port Douglas on the Great Barrier Reef. Low Island is a quintessential tropical island, little more than a thicket of trees fringed by white sandy beaches and surrounded by a shallow lagoon. There is currently a small weather station and an active lighthouse on the island. The lighthouse stood in 1954, however the visiting team only had use of an old shack left over from a 1929 expedition in which to conduct their work.

The 1954 visit was organised by the Geology Department at the University of Queensland and was lead by Dr Fred Whitehouse. Mr Bristow spent his time on the island measuring water quality, collecting water from various parts of the island and carrying out basic testing. He found very little evidence of pollution and observed that the growth of coral and the presence of marine life indicated that there was very little human contamination.

Photographs from this collection, 30832 Report on Scientific Expedition to Low Isles in 1954, can now be viewed online.

R. Hillier - Librarian, State Library of Queensland