St Helena Island National Park

St Helena Island is a protected reserve spanning roughly 0.75 square kilometers (0.3 square miles) off the coast of Brisbane in Queensland. The island is covered with mangrove forests, wetlands, and grassy areas that are home to different native animal species.

The island served as a maximum security prison from 1867 until 1932, playing an important role in Queensland's punishment system. Stone buildings from that era still stand today, showing what colonial-era imprisonment was like.

The Stradbroke and Moreton Islands Aboriginal peoples had deep ties to this place before Europeans arrived. Visitors today can sense the connection between the original inhabitants and the island's natural resources.

Getting to the island means taking a boat ride from Brisbane, as it is only accessible by water. Guided tours walk visitors through the historic prison structures and explain what you see across the site.

The island holds over 100 archaeological sites and the finest collection of prison buildings from colonial times in Queensland. These remains offer a rare view into what daily punishment was actually like in the 1800s.

Location: Queensland

Inception: 1979

Website: http://nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/st-helena-island

GPS coordinates: -27.39333,153.23167

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:22