Chronology and evolution of the world's largest sand island: K'gari (Fraser Island), South East Queensland, Australia

K’gari (Fraser Island), Australia, the world’s largest sand island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, exhibits dune formation patterns linked to glacial cycles over at least three million years. Optically-Stimulated Luminescence dating reveals that major dune units, such as Awinya (>340 ka) and Yankee Jack/Bowarrady (ca. 180 ka), formed during intermediate to high sea levels, with Holocene sequences emerging around 8.5 ka to <0.5 ka. This study demonstrates that storminess also influences dune dynamics at shorter timescales (decades to centuries). The island’s geomorphological significance stems from its long-term stability, shaped by antecedent topography and prolonged interglacial high sea stands, reinforcing its status as a unique example of coastal evolution.

Shulmeister, J., Rittenour, T. M., Patton, N. R., Ellerton, D., Gontz, A., Hesp, P. A., Santini, T., Miot da Silva, G., Forman, S., Bowyer, H., Kelly, J. T., McCallum, A., & Welsh, K. (2024). Chronology and evolution of the world’s largest sand island: K’gari (Fraser Island), South East Queensland, Australia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 328, 108529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108529