Location: Caloundra, Queensland

Description: On 8th April 1863, the ship ‘Queen of the Colonies’ sailed into Moreton Bay. A woman passenger had died and it was decided to take her body to Cape Moreton for burial. While returning a storm arose. The ship was lost to sight, and the small boat was driven to the rocks below this spot.
The survivors were marooned for 14 days, living on shellfish and berries until rescued by a search party from Brisbane. One of the sailors carved the name ‘Queen of the Colonies’ on the pandanus tree. This led to their rescue. The original pandanus tree trunk is in Newstead House, Brisbane. (Description supplied with photograph.)

View this image at the State Library of Queensland: http://ift.tt/1FhHqFH

Information about State Library of Queensland’s collection: http://ift.tt/1iX4KPi

You are free to use this image without permission. Please attribute State Library of Queensland.

via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/ew3XeU