Decisions made for the public good were not always popular!

Ships, passengers and crew were put into quarantine by health and government officials. They believed this would minimise the risk of contagious often fatal diseases like whooping cough, typhoid, cholera, small pox and scarlet fever being spread to the new colony.

A long journey could be made even longer for mostly migrants and workers from Asia and Pacific Islands . Summer was a busy time with ships able to come down along the northern routes. In colder months ships from Europe came to Brisbane via Sydney which meant little or no need for quarantine facilities on Peel Island .

This may explain why there were so many complaints to the Colonial Secretary about the appalling conditions on Peel Island for quarantined passengers. Claims were also made that the draughty tents and lack of facilities contributed to a few deaths on the island.

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Ships quarantined

List of ships known to be quarantined off Peel Island , the diseases which caused them to be quarantined, the number of passengers who died, and their names if known. This is not yet an exhaustive list

List of ships, ports of origin, and details of disease [pdf download]

Detailed information on some ships quarantined:

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