Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory
Peninsula
Looking south from Mount Oberon on Wilsons Promontory towards the southern tip of the Australian mainland.
Nickname: The Prom
Country	Australia
State	Victoria
Region	Gippsland
Municipality	South Gippsland Shire
Landmark	Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
Rivers	Tidal River, Darby River
Coordinates	39°02′S 146°23′E / 39.033°S 146.383°E / -39.033; 146.383Coordinates: 39°02′S 146°23′E / 39.033°S 146.383°E / -39.033; 146.383
Lowest point	South Point
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	39°08′06″S 146°22′32″E / 39.13500°S 146.37556°E / -39.13500; 146.37556
National parks	Corner Inlet Marine National Park; Wilsons Promontory National Park; Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park
Location of Wilsons Promontory in Victoria
Wikimedia Commons: Wilsons Promontory National Park

The Wilsons Promontory^[1] is a peninsula that forms the southernmost part of the Australian mainland and is located in the state of Victoria. It is known to the indigenous Gunai/Kurnai and the Boonerwrung Clans as Yiruk and Wammum respectively.^[2]

South Point at 39°08′06″S 146°22′32″E / 39.13500°S 146.37556°E / -39.13500; 146.37556 is the southernmost tip of Wilsons Promontory and hence of mainland Australia. Located at nearby South East Point, (39°07′S 146°25′E / 39.117°S 146.417°E / -39.117; 146.417) is the Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse. Most of the peninsula is protected by the Wilsons Promontory National Park and the Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park.

Human history

Erosion damage caused by the March 2011 floods, as viewed southwards towards Lilly Pilly Gully in March 2012.

Tidal River as viewed from the summit of Mount Oberon. The settlement of Tidal River is visible in the bottom-right corner.

Evidence of Aboriginal occupation at Wilsons Promontory dates back at least 6,500 years and the park is highly significant to the Gunai/Kurnai and the Boonerwrung Clans.

The first European to see the promontory was George Bass in January 1798.^[3] He initially referred to it as "Furneaux's Land" in his diary, believing it to be what Captain Furneaux had previously seen. But on returning to Port Jackson and consulting Matthew Flinders he was convinced that the location was so different it could not be that land. Bass and Flinders recommended the name Wilsons Promontory to Governor Hunter, honouring Flinders's friend from London Thomas Wilson. Little is known of Wilson except that he was a merchant engaged in trade with Australia.^[4]

The promontory has been a national park, to one degree or another, since 1898. Wilsons Promontory National Park, also known locally as "the Prom", contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria. The site was closed to the public during World War II, as it was used as a commando training ground. The only settlement within Wilsons Promontory is Tidal River which lies 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of the park boundary and is the focus for tourism and recreation. This park is managed by Parks Victoria.^[5] In 2005 a burn started by staff got out of control and burnt 13% of the park, causing the evacuation of campers.^[6] In 2009, a lightning strike near Sealer's Cove started a fire that burned over 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres). Much of the area had not been burned since 1951.^[7] The fire began on 8 February, the day after "Black Saturday", where an intense heat wave, combined with arson, faulty electrical infrastructure and natural causes, led to hundreds of bushfires burning throughout the state of Victoria. Although the fire burned to within 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), the Tidal River camping area and park headquarters were unaffected. The park reopened to the public one month after the incident and the burned areas quickly regrew.^[8] Despite the damage, the natural beauty of the area remained largely intact.^[9]

In March 2011 a significant rainfall event led to major flooding of the Tidal River camping area. The bridge over Darby River was cut, leaving no vehicle access to Tidal River, leading to the evacuation of all visitors by helicopter over the following days, and the closure of the southern section of the park. In September 2011 public access to Tidal River was reopened following repair of the main access road, and the bridge at Darby River. All sections of the park south of Tidal River were closed while further repairs of tracks and footpaths were undertaken. The park was fully re-opened by Easter of 2012.

Tourists may choose basic or glam, cabins or camping (powered/unpowered) if they wish to stay inside Wilsons Promontory National Park. Many however choose to stay in accommodation just outside the Park in Yanakie, where they can still view the Wisons Promontory mountains and scenery and be only minutes from the Park's free entrance.

There are overnight hiking tracks^[10] with two key circuits, one in the north and one in the south. The southern circuit is more popular with overnight hikers with several camping areas suited to wild camping. Camping is only allowed in the designated areas to reduce damage to the bush.

Geography and Wildlife

Swamp wallaby at Wilsons Promontory

Coastal features include expansive intertidal mudflats, sandy beaches and sheltered coves interrupted by prominent headlands and plunging granite cliffs in the south, backed by coastal dunes and swamps. The promontory is surrounded by a scatter of small granite islands which, collectively, form the Wilsons Promontory Islands Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for breeding seabirds.^[11]

Tidal River is the main river in Wilsons Promontory. It runs into Norman Bay and swells with the tide. The river is a very interesting colour, a purple-yellow. This is due to the large number of tea trees in the area, which stain the water with tannin, giving it a tealike appearance. Darby River is the second major river, with extensive alluvial flats and meanders. It was the site of the original park entrance and accommodation area from 1909 to the Second World War.^[12]

Wilsons Promontory is home to many marsupials, native birds and other creatures. One of the most common marsupials found on the promontory is the common wombat, which can be found in much of the park (especially around campsites where it has been known to invade tents searching for food). The peninsula is also home to kangaroos, snakes, wallabies, koalas, long-nosed potoroos, white-footed dunnarts, broad-toothed rats, feather-tailed gliders and emus. Some of the most common birds found on the promontory include crimson rosellas, yellow-tailed black cockatoos and superb fairywrens. There are also many pests hog deer, foxes, feral cats, rabbits, common starlings, and common blackbirds.

As the Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park and Corner Inlet Marine National Park have been established, the area holds variety of marine life and coral reefs. In recent years, after long disappearance due to illegal hunts by Soviet Union with helps by Japan, Southern right whales finally started coming back to the area to rest and calve in the sheltered bays along with Humpback whales. Killer whales are also known to pass the area, and dolphins, seals, sea lions, and penguins still occur today.

Climate

Gallery

• 
  Emus in the park.
• 
  Five Mile Beach
• 
  Five Mile Beach Camp
• 
  Beach near Johnny Souey Cove, home to many crabs.
• 
  Southeast Point.
• 
  Squeaky Beach
• 
  The Independent Companies Memorial at Tidal River
• 
  Whiskey Beach
• 
  Tidal River seen from Mt Oberon.
• 
  Southeast tip and lighthouse.
• 
  Lighthouse and cabin accommodation.
• 
  Skull Rocks.
• 
  Waterloo Bay.
• 
  Wombat
• 
  Rocks at Waterloo Bay.
• 
  Hiking track to the southeast.
• 
  Oberon Beach.
• 
  Mt Oberon, seen from Oberon Beach.
• 
  Norman Beach, near Tidal River.

See also

Media related to Wilsons Promontory National Park at Wikimedia Commons

• Yanakie

References

External links

• Wilsons Promontory Resources, Parks Victoria.
• A map of the burned area from Prom Map, Parks Victoria.