Pelorus Islet

Pelorus Islet (also known as Pelorus Reef and Pelorus Rock) is an islet in the Australian state of South Australia located in Great Australian Bight off the south coast of Kangaroo Island approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) east south-east of Cape Gantheaume. It was named by Captain Francis Harding, RN after HMS Pelorus.

This article is about the islet in South Australia. For the island in Queensland, see Pelorus Island.

Pelorus Islet
Pelorus Rocks, off Kangaroo Island, ca 1925
Pelorus Islet
Geography
LocationGreat Australian Bight
Administration
Australia
Demographics
Population0

Description

Pelorus Islet is about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) east south-east of Cape Gantheaume. It consists of three separate islets - a main round topped peak of 12 metres (39 feet) height with a reef with several rocks sitting above water level to its east and another exposed rock to its south-west. It is inaccessible by boat as it is subject to continuous swells.[1]

Formation, geology and oceanography

Peloris Islet was formed between 7500 and 8900 years ago after sea levels rose at the start of the Holocene when Kangaroo Island became separated from Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas.[2] Pelorus Islet is the remains of a volcanic intrusion reported as being some 506 million years old.[1] The islet rises abruptly from a depth of 35 metres (115 feet).[3]

Flora and fauna

As of 1996, no terrestrial vegetation was present as the islet has been ‘scoured of any soil and small eroded fragments, leaving only a few large boulders’ while the only vertebrate animals observed were New Zealand fur seals and crested terns.[1]

History

Nicolas Baudin is reported as being the first European to describe the islet, however he did not name the islet. The islet was surveyed in May 1838 by HMS Pelorus under the command of Captain Francis Harding RN. It is reported that Harding named the islet after the ship.[4][5] The Pelorus Islet is reported as being the site of the wrecking of You Yangs on 14 June 1890. You Yangs was a 672 gross tonnage barque rigged screw steamer owned by Howard Smith and Sons.[6]

Protected areas status

Pelorus Islet originally obtained protected area status as a fauna reserve under the former Fauna Conservation Act 1964[7] As of 1996, it was described as being vacant crown land.[8] It obtained status as a fauna conservation reserve declared under the Crown Lands Act 1929-1966 on 16 March 1967.[9] As of 2016, the islet is part of the Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park.[10] As of 2012, the waters surrounding its shores are part of a habitat protection zone located within the boundaries of the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park.[11]

References
  1. Robinson A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (1996). "South Australia's offshore islands" (PDF). Australian Heritage Commission. p. 300. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  2. Robinson, A. C.; Armstrong, D. M. (eds.). A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 1990 (PDF). Adelaide, SA: Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia. p. 26. ISBN 0 7308 5862 6. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  3. South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors (1985), The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs, Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia, pp. Chart 11, ISBN 978-0-7243-7603-2
  4. Robinson A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (1996). "South Australia's offshore islands" (PDF). Australian Heritage Commission. p. 126. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  5. "(Captain Francis) Harding". www(dot)hmspelorus(dot)com/. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  6. "(Australian National Shipwreck Database) View Shipwreck - You Yangs". Department of the Environment, Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  7. Robinson A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (1996). "South Australia's offshore islands" (PDF). Australian Heritage Commission. p. 140. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  8. Robinson A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (1996). "South Australia's offshore islands" (PDF). Australian Heritage Commission. p. 147. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  9. "CROWN LANDS ACT, 1929-1966: FAUNA CONSERVATION RESERVES DEDICATED" (PDF). THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. Government of South Australia. 16 March 1967. pp. 961–962. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  10. "Search result for "Pelorus Islet (IS)" (Record no SA0056205)". Property Location Browser. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  11. "Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park Management Plan 2012" (PDF). Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources. 2012. pp. 25/26. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

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