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HistoryIn the early 1970s, Dr Frank Talbot, then Director of the Australian Museum, was approached by US philanthropists Henry and Jacqueline Loomis who wanted to establish a new coral reef research facility. Because the southern end of the reef was already well-served by research stations at Heron Island and One Tree Island, Frank's thoughts turned north. In 1971, he and Henry visited several likely islands in the area before selecting Lizard, where plans for establishment of an airstrip and fishing lodge were also in progress. A 25 year lease over part of the Lizard Island National Park was negotiated in 1973.
The Station's first Director was Steve Domm, who reported in 1974 that two temporary buildings had been constructed (an air-conditioned lab and a staff house), two generators had been installed, and that up to 6 visiting researchers could be accommodated in tents. Bench fees were $30 per week per person! By mid-1975, a maintenance engineer had been appointed, two staff houses and the visitor's house now known as Talbot had been built, a temporary aquarium system was functioning, field equipment comprised four boats, two scuba compressors and 14 scuba tanks, the temporary lab was outfitted with microscopes and balances, and plans for a permanent laboratory block were being finalised. Researchers had started to make use of the facility, mostly for basic biological survey work. This rate of development was an amazing achievement considering the isolation and lack of communications facilities at the time. Steve resigned in November 1976 and was replaced as Director by Dr Barry Goldman. At about the same time, Dr Des Griffin became Director of the Australian Museum, beginning a long and fruitful association with the Research Station.
Under the direction of Barry and with the creative assistance of his then wife, Lois Wilson, the Station flourished over the next nine and a half years. The first permanent laboratory block was built in 1977 and the library collection was started. The original aquarium system, including an enclosed aquarium room, was built in 1978, as was the generator shed. In that year, a reliable source of groundwater was found so collection of rainwater in tanks was no longer necessary. An important landmark in the Station's history was the establishment in 1978 of the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation with the late Sir John Proud as its committed and enthusiastic founding chairman. Over the ensuing years, the Foundation has provided the funds that have enabled the Station to rise above the ordinary. Laboratory and field equipment continued to increase in variety and sophistication throughout Lois and Barry's tenure. By 1979, a great boost to communications had occurred: outgoing telephone calls could be made through the Royal Flying Doctor Service by HF radio, although incoming messages were restricted to telegrams. Incoming radphone calls were possible by 1981 but communications remained awkward with all of outback Queensland able to listen in. The first regular barge service operated every two weeks from 1981, but only during the dry season.
The early eighties saw a period of major development. The tent era ended in 1982 when three new visitor houses were completed, now known as Suntory, Kirby and Loomis houses. The first annual Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship was awarded in 1983 with funds provided by the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation. Over the years, the Fellowship has increased in value from $4,000 to $6,400 per annum for three years. It continues to be one of the most valuable sources of funding for doctoral students on the Great Barrier Reef. Also in 1983, a 14 metre sailing catamaran RV Sunbird began operations from the Station as a research vessel capable of extended trips to remote locations and as a supply vessel. The block building that currently houses the office, Library and the Griffin Laboratory was constructed in 1984, and the workshop was extended to provide a large undercover space in 1985. In April 1986, Barry and Lois resigned and were replaced by Dr Barbara Kojis and Dr Norman Quinn as Directors. The pace of development slowed during the late eighties. A telephone was installed in 1988 making communications much easier and several additions were made to the fleet of small boats. RV Sunbird was well-used, conducting research along the entire Great Barrier Reef as well as in the Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea. In August 1990, Barb and Norm were replaced as Directors by Dr Lyle Vail and Dr Anne Hoggett. The early nineties saw a period of consolidation, upgrading of existing facilities, and planning and fundraising for the next major stage of development. A decision was made not to pursue improving analytical facilities because of the cost and logistics of maintaining such equipment at Lizard Island. The Station's policy now is to provide basic equipment that enables researchers to process their samples to a stage suitable for transport to more sophisticated laboratory facilities. The Raymond E. Purves Laboratory was constructed in 1992, providing spacious wet lab facilities for the first time at the Station. The RV Sunbird was sold in 1993 to concentrate resources on the Station itself. In 1995, the original aquarium system was replaced with the new Sir John Proud Aquarium. This important facility has three times the seawater capacity, occupies twice the area of the original system, and includes an area for the culture of algae and other microscopic life. The two largest visitor houses, Kirby and Suntory, were extended in 1995 with each gaining an extra bedroom, an enlarged kitchen and verandah, and two new bathrooms. Also in 1995, an air-conditioned room was added to complete the Raymond E. Purves Laboratory. In 1997, the Warman House was built to replace one of the original staff houses. Between 1995 and 1997, the old pit toilets were phased out and replaced with excellent dry composting systems: only one pit toilet remains and this is scheduled for replacement in 2001. The Station now has eleven small boats and more than 50 scuba tanks. The Station's contributions to coral reef science may be inferred from the quantity and quality of publications produced by visiting researchers. A collection exists of more than 600 publications based on work done at the Station, but this is by no means complete. The majority is made up of peer-reviewed papers in international scientific journals, but it also includes postgraduate theses, books, book chapters and papers published in conference proceedings. The published record shows that the early years were dominated by descriptive work on the fauna, flora and physical environment. In the eighties, biological work expanded into areas such as functional morphology, reproductive cycles, population dynamics, feeding strategies and processes including nutrient cycling, bioerosion and cyclone disturbance. Two important lines of scientific enquiry began at Lizard in the early eighties: the significance of herbivory in the coral reef ecosystem and the role of the larval phase in the life cycle of reef fishes. Both lines of enquiry are still being followed today at Lizard Island and elsewhere, and have far-reaching implications for the management of coral reefs. In the late eighties and nineties, research extended further into topics such as sex change in fishes, aging of fish populations, recruitment of larvae into adult populations, parasitism, symbiotic associations, the effects of people on coral reefs, and the search for useful bioactive chemicals, to name just a few. Outside the marine field, the archaeology of Lizard Island was studied for the first time in the nineties, and geologists and terrestrial botanists have also made contributions. Collectively, this work is piecing together a story about how coral reefs work. The story may never be fully told because each part that we learn leads to more questions, but it is always interesting and often surprising. The surface has just been scratched. Relevant links
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