Phillip Island
Encyclopedia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n island located about 140 km (87 mi) south-southeast from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Named after the first Governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
, Phillip Island forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of Western Port
Western Port
Western Port, is sometimes called "Western Port Bay", is a large tidal bay in southern Victoria, Australia opening into Bass Strait. It is the second largest bay in Victoria. Geographically, it is dominated by the two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. Contrary to its name, it lies to...
. It is 26 km (16.2 mi) long and 9 km (5.6 mi) wide, with an area of about 100 km² (38.6 sq mi). It has 97 km (60.3 mi) of coastline and is part of the Bass Coast Shire
Bass Coast Shire
Bass Coast Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the south-eastern part of the state, less than 90 minutes from Melbourne, and includes the popular tourist destination, Phillip Island...
.
A 640 m (2,099.7 ft) concrete bridge (originally a wooden bridge) connects the mainland town San Remo
San Remo, Victoria
San Remo is a town in southern Victoria, Australia in the Gippsland region. Formed as a fishing village, its economy is now more largely based around tourism. It is also notable as the town on the mainland end of the bridge to Phillip Island...
with the island town Newhaven
Newhaven, Victoria
Newhaven is a town in southern Victoria, in the south Gippsland region. Located on Phillip Island, adjacent to the channel known as The Narrows, it is the town on the island side of the bridge linking Phillip Island to the mainland...
. In the 2001 Census the island's permanent population was 7,071. During the summer, the population swells to 40,000. 60% of the island is farmland devoted to grazing of sheep and cattle. Churchill Island
Churchill Island
Churchill Island is a island in Western Port, Victoria, Australia. It is connected by a bridge to Phillip Island. It is the site of the first European settlement in Victoria. It contains a working farm and a homestead, dating from 1872, which is open to the public...
and the area around it served as the location for the 1977 Australian film Summerfield
Summerfield (film)
Summerfield is a 1977 Australian film, directed by Ken Hannam, written by Cliff Green and produced by Patricia Lovell . It stars Nick Tate, Elizabeth Alexander, John Waters, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Max Fairchild and Geraldine Turner...
.
Wildlife
In addition to the major tourist attraction of Penguin Parade, there is a wildlife park where wallabies and kangaroos roam freely amongst the visitors and can be fed by hand. The southern and western coasts of the island lie within the Phillip Island Important Bird AreaPhillip Island Important Bird Area
The Phillip Island Important Bird Area comprises a 20 km2 strip of coastline along the south and west coasts of Phillip Island, Victoria, in south-eastern Australia.-Description:...
, so identified by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
because of its importance in supporting significant populations of Little Penguin
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
s, Short-tailed Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
The Short-tailed Shearwater or Slender-billed Shearwater , also called Yolla or Moonbird, and commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in Australian waters, and is one of the few Australian native birds in which the chicks are commercially harvested...
s and Pacific Gull
Pacific Gull
The Pacific Gull is a very large gull, native to the coasts of Australia. It is moderately common between Carnarvon in the west, and Sydney in the east, although it has become scarce in some parts of the south-east, as a result of competition from the Kelp Gull, which has "self-introduced" since...
s. Seal Rocks, at the western end of the island, hosts the largest colony of fur seal
Fur seal
Fur seals are any of nine species of pinnipeds in the Otariidae family. One species, the northern fur seal inhabits the North Pacific, while seven species in the Arctocephalus genus are found primarily in the Southern hemisphere...
s in Australia (up to 16,000).
Climate
Phillip Island experiences milder weather than MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and is tempered by ocean breezes. The mean daily maximum temperature for February is 24.7°C (76.5°F), while for July it is 13.4°C (56.1°F). The mean annual rainfall is 782.3 millimetres (30.8 in), with June being the wettest month (88.1 mm/3.5 in). The prevailing wind for most of the year is a south-westerly which blows in off Bass Strait.
On the 10th of August 2005, snow was observed on the island. This was a very unusual event.
Tourism
Phillip Island is a tourist destinationTourist destination
A tourist destination is a city, town, or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions and possibly some "tourist traps."...
visited by 3.5 million people annually. The Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park
Phillip Island Nature Park
Phillip Island Nature Park is a conservation park located on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. Created in 1996, the park is owned by the Victorian State Government, however it is a self-funding commercial attraction for the purpose of animal conservation and research.An oil spill off the island...
, in which Little Penguin
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
s come ashore in groups, attracts visitors from all over the world. They come to see one of the few areas where this species of penguin can be seen.
The island is recognised as having some of the most consistently reliable and varied surf conditions in the country. The island has hosted various surf events in the past, such as the Rip Curl
Rip Curl
Rip Curl is a major Australian manufacturer and retailer of surfing sportswear The company was founded in 1969 by Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer in Torquay, Victoria, Australia and initially produced surfboards. In 1970, they decided to begin production of wetsuits, with emphasis on transforming...
Pro in 2005 and the Roxy Pro Women's Surfing Festival.
On New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
the island hosts the Pyramid Rock Festival
Pyramid Rock Festival
The Pyramid Rock Festival is a New Year's Eve camp-out rock music festival at Pyramid Rock, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia.Beginning in 2004, it runs over two nights with two stages - the Main Stage, and the Pharaoh's Annex...
. Other events include the Churchill Island Working Horse and Pioneer Festival.
Motorsport
Phillip Island is steeped in the history of Australian motor racing. A circuit composed of the island's interior roads was used for the original Australian Grand PrixAustralian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
in 1928
1928 Australian Grand Prix
The 1928 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held on the Phillip Island road course, on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia on 31 March 1928...
and continued to be used for the race up until 1935. In 1952 the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club was formed. They commenced construction on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a motor racing racing circuit on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. The circuit was opened in 1956.-Road circuit:...
which opened in 1956. In 1960
1960 Armstrong 500
The 1960 Armstrong 500 was an endurance motor race for Australian made or assembled standard production sedans. The event was held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria on 20 November 1960 over a distance of 167 laps x 3.0 miles = 501 miles....
the original Armstrong 500 was held, although with the bridge to the mainland unable to support heavy hotmix bitumen equipment the track broke after the third running of the race in 1962
1962 Armstrong 500
The 1962 Armstrong 500 was an endurance race for Australian built production cars. The race was held at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia on 21 October 1962 over 167 laps of the 3.0 mile circuit, a total of 501 miles. Cars competed in four classes based on the retail price of each...
. In 1963
1963 Armstrong 500
The 1963 Armstrong 500 was the fourth running of the Armstrong 500 touring car race. It was held on 6 October 1963. After the 1962 race, the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit was too damaged to continue to stage the race, forcing it to move to a new location, the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside...
the race relocated to the Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit is a motor racing track located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Bathurst 12 Hour motor race, held each February, and the Bathurst 1000 motor race, held each October...
and over time evolved into the race known today as the Bathurst 1000
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
.
The circuit closed in the late 1970s but was redeveloped and re-opened in 1989 to host the first international version of the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix
Australian motorcycle Grand Prix
The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It is held each year at the scenic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.-Winners of the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix:...
. It continues to host the race today and is also a venue for the Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
, V8 Supercars and the Australian Drivers' Championship
Australian Drivers' Championship
The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula...
.
Localities
Towns on and around the island include:- BeachcomberBeachcomber, VictoriaBeachcomber is a small town on Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. It is located on Back Beach Road, on the shores of Smiths Beach. It is home to a Short-tailed Shearwater or Australian Muttonbird colony....
- Cape Woolamai
- CowesCowes, VictoriaCowes is the main township on Phillip Island in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. It is less than 2 hours drive from Melbourne and can also be reached by ferry from Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula. Cowes is located on the northern side of Phillip Island and faces towards French...
- NewhavenNewhaven, VictoriaNewhaven is a town in southern Victoria, in the south Gippsland region. Located on Phillip Island, adjacent to the channel known as The Narrows, it is the town on the island side of the bridge linking Phillip Island to the mainland...
- RhyllRhyll, VictoriaRhyll is a small fishing town on Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north-east corner of the island. It is named after Rhyl, a holiday resort in North Wales, Great Britain. At the 2006 census, Rhyll had a population of 503....
- San RemoSan Remo, VictoriaSan Remo is a town in southern Victoria, Australia in the Gippsland region. Formed as a fishing village, its economy is now more largely based around tourism. It is also notable as the town on the mainland end of the bridge to Phillip Island...
- SilverleavesSilverleaves, VictoriaSilverleaves is a small town on Phillip Island situated east of Cowes, Victoria. At the 2006 census, Silverleaves had a population of 187.-Notes and references:...
- Summerlands
- Wimbledon HeightsWimbledon Heights, VictoriaWimbledon Heights is a small town in the center of Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. It consists of a small residential block surrounded by farmland and is located north of the Phillip Island Grand Prix track. At the 2006 census, Wimbledon Heights had a population of 386.-References:...
External links
- Official Phillip Island Tourism Association site Accommodation and attractions on and around Phillip Island.
- Phillip Island Ferry Service
- Phillip Island Nature Park Web Site Includes Penguin Parade and Koala Conservation Center.