Shipping Reporter exclusive
When Captain Cook ventured into the dangerous North Queensland waters in the 1770s he came across a mysterious island which made his compass perform strangely , so he named it Magnetical Island , now Magnetic Island, Townsville's so- called jewel in the crown .
The Shipping Reporter says that if Captain Cook had sailed into the same waters in recent months Magnetic Island would almost certainly have a different name , one which would rival a very famous American resort .
Why? Because The Strand on nearby Townsville contained many metal objects , part of the Ephemera Seaside Sculpture Exhibition , which would send Captain Cook's compass gyrating madly , resulting in him calling the island Whizney Land , long before Walt , now in deep freeze, launched his playground , Disney Land , which went worldwide .
The Strand metal objects included a collection of bunged up pedestal fans artistically arranged by Cranky Curlew Productions of Magnetic Island , entitled Their Second Wind, which mariners like Captain Cook would like .
In addition , The Strand has a large metal sculpture in the shape of a land boat from a past competition which would cause interference with Captain Cook's navigation equipment..
