Fairfax Islands Recover as Former WWII Bombing Range Returns to Nature
Queensland rangers report that the Fairfax Islands, once used for military bombing drills in World War II and the Cold War, have largely healed, though they still monitor for unexploded ordnance.
During World War II the Fairfax Islands were designated a bombing range for the Royal Australian Air Force, and from 1952 they hosted naval gunnery exercises amid Cold-War tensions. The practice left visible craters on the reef flat and a legacy of unexploded ordnance that required multiple clearance operations, including a 2008 mission where explosives were detonated on site. By the early 1970s the Australian Defence Force ceased all activities, and the islands were incorporated into the Capricornia Cays National Park.
Senior ranger Damon Shearer notes that seabirds now nest in thousands and coral has recolonised former blast sites, illustrating natural recovery. Although no new UXOs have been detected since 2015, rangers conduct regular visits to monitor wildlife, vegetation and potential hazards. The islands remain closed to visitors, serving as a reminder of both wartime history and successful ecological restoration.
Why it matters
It shows how ecosystems can rebound after military use, while highlighting ongoing safety checks for hidden war remnants.
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