One of Queensland’s top icons is at our doorstep, according to an announcement made this morning by the National Trust of Queensland.

The Trust named the Great Barrier Reef as one of the top 12 quintessential symbols of Queensland at a ceremony at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Chairman Virginia Chadwick welcomed the announcement.

“The Great Barrier Reef is an incredibly diverse and important marine ecosystem and we welcome its listing as one of Queensland’s top icons,” she said.

“The reef is internationally-renowned for its amazing marine life and as an example of best practice environmental management to ensure it is used sustainably.

“We hope the listing will raise even more environmental awareness about the reef, why it is special and why it should be protected for future generations.”

Some 2900 reefs make up the Great Barrier Reef, which is approximately 2300 kilometres long and extends from the northern tip of Queensland south to just north of Bundaberg.

It is home to approximately 1500 species of fish, 360 species of hard coral and one -third of the world's soft corals.

During 2004 the National Trust of Queensland invited the people of Queensland to nominate a favourite Queensland icon for inclusion in the initial list of Queensland Heritage Icons.

The plan is to add another 12 items, thus building for all time a comprehensive list of familiar items of significance in the cultural history of Queensland.

Items listed will inherently represent an important part of our history or will have contributed to our cultural identity and have won a lasting place in our memories.

The list will include objects or places or traditions but will not include people.