How is the desert island of the Australian Robinson?

As I have already related in this post and this video, two years ago I spent five days on the castaway squatter’s island, the Australian David Glasheen. It is called Restoration Island and in this article I will try to keep brief my accounts about this encounter.

Firstly, I should point out that we are talking about a very inhospitable area in the north east of Australia (see map). Strangely enough, not far from there, were two very different historic castaways. One was a Frenchman called Narcisse Pellieter who in 1875, after a passionate life with the aborigines, was rescued on Night Island.
The other hermit was Gerald Kingsland, a British journalist who, just like our clients, voluntarily became a castaway on an island with a girl who he had never met before. The film “Castaway” by Nicholas Roeg is based on this story.

Taking advantage of my journey towards David Glasheen’s island I decided to be ‘shipwrecked’ for a few days on Gerald’s island, called Tuin. But the Badu aborigines (the island’s owners) blocked my way due to the bad memories they had of the girl (Lucy Irvine). According to the natives Lucy’s behaviour left much to be desired. Maybe one day I’ll write about this in this blog.

On the contrary, the island of the Frenchman, Pellieter, didn’t present any restrictions whatsoever for camping there. Nonetheless, David Glasheen tried to persuade me not to visit it as this island is totally infested with salt water crocodiles, amongst other reasons, due to the proximity of estuaries and swamps.

The truth is that on Restoration Island (where Dave lives) there are also salt water crocodiles, but in lesser number. All the same, these enormous reptiles are truly a great threat to man and no-one should even think of swimming or scuba diving carelessly in this area. As an example take Quassi, Dave’s dog, who survived two attacks.

“Only mad men and idiots would think to swim carelessly in these waters”, explained Dave.

One day Dave and I went exploring in his boat, around the swamp area which is about 3 km (2 miles) from his island. As soon as we arrived we came across a marine crocodile and this video can be seen on YouTube. We also found a dead crocodile on another beach, and the smell was nauseating. I have some videos of this, but Dave asked me not to publish them out of respect for the aborigines who live near, in Lockhart River.

 

In the map of the area which you can see here at the side, you will see where this encounter took place and the distance to the island.

Taking into account that the crocodile is the most dangerous predator for humans (1,000 deaths/year) and also taking into account that these reptiles can move great distances under water, the threat or menace on Restoration Island is very real. According to Dave, there are crocodiles watching him from the water many afternoons whilst he works. 

But these reptiles aren’t the only threat on David Glasheen’s island. As well as different types of insects and spiders there are also tiger sharks and white sharks. The extremely venomous coastal taipan snake is also an inhabitant and, sadly, one of these snakes ended the life of Dave’s dog, Quassimodo, last year. 

“Quassi was bitten by a coastal taipan which came here after a rodent issue which we have never had in this region before. Taipans are prolific in cape York and are Australia’s deadliest snakes. They are also very beautiful. I took a photo and had it confirmed. Quassi killed the snake but there is no antidote here at Lockhart Quassi was in no pain and I will really miss him. He was 8 years old and survived 2 crocodile attacks. He was a much loved dog by everyone” Dave explained.

After a time of grieving David Glasheen has found a new friend with whom to share his life on the island. A dog called Polly who is very clever and wild, she is 95% Dingo.  “Now I have a new dog crossed with a Dingo that’s called Polly and who has been here nine months. However she will never replace Quassi but she is turning into a good dog” David added.

On this island I also found the largest coconut I have ever seen.  Dave has had it many years.

By the way, of my time on Restoration Island I remember what was for me the unknown smell of ants.  The island is plagued with the Australian Oecophylla Smaragdine ant.  Its back end is green and when you crush them they give out a strong acid smell. 

Dave doesn’t live too isolated from civilisation and he has a small aluminium boat with a 30 horse power motor. This allows him to leave the island whenever he wants. Twenty years living in the area has allowed this castaway to create strong ties with the aborigines of Lockhart. Dave is always helping them and he feels proud to belong to this community.

 

Although David Glasheen lives a very austere life, the truth is he has some comforts that have nothing to envy compared to those that our castaways enjoy on our Comfort Mode islands.

Restoration Island has a generator and even internet which, though very slow, allows me to communicate with Dave whenever I want to know how he is.

In any case, Mr. Glasheen decided some time ago that Restoration Island is the place where he wants to spend the rest of his life. Let’s see if he is lucky and after all he won’t be evicted

By the way, have YOU ever met a marine crocodile or a taipan coastal snake?  Tell me about it here, below, and if you have photos, great!!