Green Island has an amazing history including many ‘Firsts’; such as the world’s first underwater observatory and the first island movie theatre!
Timeline
Pre-European Settlement
Green Island is used by local aboriginal tribes as a fishing ground and a sacred ceremonial site for manhood initiations. Green Island is known as Wunyami, the sea country of the Gungganji and Yidinji people.
1770
Lt James Cook sighted Green Island on June 10, 1770. According to tradition, he named the Island after Charles Green the Chief Observer and Astronomer on his ship, the HMS Endeavor.
1857
European colonization commenced when a sea cucumber smoking station on the Island was founded.
1890
Occasional pleasure cruises started traveling to Green Island
1924
The Hayles Family commenced a regular ferry service from Cairns to Green Island operating every 2nd Sunday.
1936
Green Island was declared a national park.
1940s
The First guest house was opened.
1948
The introduction of the Glass Bottom Boat replaced the old method of a floating glass box to view coral.
1954
Opening of the world’s first Underwater Observatory.
1960s
Establishment of Marineland. Since 1971, it has operated as Marineland Melanesia, crocodile farm, aquarium and museum.
1961
The Barrier Reef Theater opened on Green Island – the first movie theatre on an island. It featured the wonderful film work of Noel and Kitty Monkman, pioneering underwater photographers from the 1930s. It was operational until the early 1990.
1974
The surrounding Great Barrier Reef was declared a National Marine Park.
1983
The Hayles family pioneered the use of the semi-submersible boat for coral viewing.
1992
Daikyo Australia commenced redevelopment of Green Island Resort.
1993
Commissioning of tertiary sewage treatment plant.
1994
Official opening of the $43 million eco-friendly Green Island Resort.
2001
Commissioning of desalination plant (producing over 55,000 litres of freshwater daily.)
2004
Opening of Resort Day Spa facilities.
2005
The Quicksilver Group acquires Green Island Resort and Great Adventures island operations after the successful purchase from Daikyo.
2006
Inaugural annual Great Adventures Green Island Ocean Swim
2012
The pioneering Underwater Observatory was decommissioned and closed to public, deemed structurally unsound by engineers.
2017
Single use plastics begin to be phased out on the island.
2018
The Resort’s first solar arrays installed, and other environmental upgrades commence.
2022
Wunyami Cultural Walking Tours commence highlighting the island’s rich Indigenous culture and history
