Hidden Bombs and Bird Colonies on the Fairfax Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

The Fairfax Islands sit about 70 kilometres offshore in the southern Great Barrier Reef, adjacent to the Capricornia Cays National Park. During World War II the Royal Australian Air Force used the islands for aerial bombing practice, and in the early 1970s the Australian Defence Force turned the site into a naval gunnery range. These activities created a series of craters on the reef flat that remain visible today.

After the military stopped using the islands for training, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service began monitoring the area. Periodic sweeps for unexploded ordnance (UXO) have been conducted since the early 2000s, with a notable operation in 2008 that cleared dozens of bomb fragments. The most recent comprehensive search in 2015 reported no UXO remaining, and subsequent checks have not uncovered any new hazardous items.

Nature has responded in unexpected ways. Coral has slowly recolonised the bomb‑scarred depressions, turning the once‑blasted landscape into a mosaic of living reef. The islands now support a sizable colony of brown boobies, a seabird species that breeds on isolated islands across the region. Their presence highlights the resilience of the ecosystem despite its militarised past.

Access to the Fairfax Islands is strictly prohibited. The islands are listed as off‑limits to the public, and water police from Gladstone patrol the nearby Capricorn Bunker Group to enforce the restriction. Rangers from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service visit the islands a few times each year to confirm that no new ordnance has appeared and to monitor the health of the bird colony.

Historical records note that the islands once hosted guano mining, and feral goats and rats were eradicated during the 1980s‑1990s. While the exact impact of those earlier extractive activities on the reef’s condition remains uncertain, the combination of past mining, military use and natural storm events may have occasionally exposed hidden ordnance, prompting the need for controlled explosions to safely destroy any unsafe items discovered.

The story of Fairfax Islands illustrates a broader theme across the Great Barrier Reef: areas once dedicated to defence or resource extraction can, with careful management, transition back to valuable wildlife habitat. Ongoing vigilance by the Australian government, the ADF and state agencies ensures that any lingering threats are swiftly dealt with, while the thriving brown booby colony offers a visible sign of ecological recovery.

Looking ahead, ranger visits will continue a few times annually, and any suspicious objects spotted by water police or the public are to be reported immediately to the police or the Australian Defence Force for assessment. This collaborative approach aims to keep the islands safe for wildlife and preserve the unique blend of historical artefacts and natural recovery that defines the Fairfax Islands today.