Flinders Bay
Encyclopedia
Flinders Bay is a bay and locality that is immediately south of the townsite of Augusta, Western Australia
, and close to the mouth of the Blackwood River
and lies to the north east of Cape Leeuwin
.
On Matthew Flinders
Terra Australis Sheet 1 1801-1803 the area was originally known as Dangerous Bight. The bay runs from Point Matthew 1.5km East North East of Cape Leeuwin
to Ledge Point some 8 km east.
It was named by either James Stirling
or Septimus Roe in 1829 or 1830.
Matthew Flinders was first in the Bay on the 7th December 1801.
railway line (1920s - closed 1957), and the earlier Flinders Bay jetty (1890s). The settlement was in the earlier days considered to be separate from Augusta but now is more or less the southern portion of the larger community.
The need for safe, and efficient transfer of whale watchers, and a safe mooring location in the Bay for fishermen has seen a proposal for a marina in 2004 which had included plans for the marina close to the old settlement of Flinders Bay. The 2005 revised proposal has moved to a bay further around towards Cape Leeuwin.
have more recently used the bay.
Augusta, Western Australia
Augusta is a town on the south-west coast of Western Australia, where the Blackwood River emerges into Flinders Bay. It is the nearest town to Cape Leeuwin, on the farthest south-west corner of the Australian continent. In the 2001 census it had a population of 1,694; by 2006 the population of...
, and close to the mouth of the Blackwood River
Blackwood River
The Blackwood River is a major river and catchment in the South West of Western Australia.The river begins at the junction of Arthur River and Balgarup River near Quelarup and travels in a south westerly direction through the town of Bridgetown then through Nannup until it discharges into the...
and lies to the north east of Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly mainland point of the Australian Continent, in the state of Western Australia.A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further to the south. The nearest settlement, north of the cape, is Augusta. South-east of Cape Leeuwin, the coast...
.
Bay
Flinders Bay (34° 21' 00S. 115° 20' 00E)On Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
Terra Australis Sheet 1 1801-1803 the area was originally known as Dangerous Bight. The bay runs from Point Matthew 1.5km East North East of Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly mainland point of the Australian Continent, in the state of Western Australia.A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further to the south. The nearest settlement, north of the cape, is Augusta. South-east of Cape Leeuwin, the coast...
to Ledge Point some 8 km east.
It was named by either James Stirling
James Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
or Septimus Roe in 1829 or 1830.
Matthew Flinders was first in the Bay on the 7th December 1801.
Railway terminus and Jetty
The name of the locality of Flinders Bay is tied to the small settlement that had been a whaling and fishing location, as well as the terminus of the Busselton to Flinders Bay Branch RailwayFlinders Bay Branch Railway
A branch railway from Busselton to Flinders Bay, in South Western Western AustraliaOriginally part of the M.C.Davies Timber railway system, which ran between the two jetties at Hamelin Bay and Flinders Bay...
railway line (1920s - closed 1957), and the earlier Flinders Bay jetty (1890s). The settlement was in the earlier days considered to be separate from Augusta but now is more or less the southern portion of the larger community.
The need for safe, and efficient transfer of whale watchers, and a safe mooring location in the Bay for fishermen has seen a proposal for a marina in 2004 which had included plans for the marina close to the old settlement of Flinders Bay. The 2005 revised proposal has moved to a bay further around towards Cape Leeuwin.
Whaling
The landing area adjacent to the old railway station yard, was original known as The Whaling. It was the area where boats would work from in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Up until the early 1970s sheds and ramps were still present. In the late 20th century the area had Whale rescue operations occurring very close to the area. Also businesses involved in Whale watchingWhale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
have more recently used the bay.