Streaky Bay, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Streaky Bay is a coastal town on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula
, in South Australia
just off the Flinders Highway
303 km north west of Port Lincoln
and 727 km by road from Adelaide. At the 2006 census
, Streaky Bay had a population of 1,059.
The town of Streaky Bay is the major population centre of the District Council of Streaky Bay
, and the centre of an agricultural district farming cereal crops and sheep, as well as having established fishing and tourism industries.
to sight the area was Dutch
explorer Pieter Nuyts
, in 1627 in the Golden Zeepaard. A monument has been erected on the median strip in Bay Road.
In 1802 Matthew Flinders
named Streaky Bay whilst on his voyage in the Investigator. In his log of 5 February 1802, he describes:
It is now known thought these streaks are caused by the release of oils by certain species of seaweed
in the bay.
In 1839, Edward John Eyre
, the renowned explorer, established a small base about 3 kilometres from the Streaky Bay Township which he used as a store for his overland expeditions to Point Bell. This site, known as Eyre's Waterhole, can still be seen today just off the road to Port Kenny.
Wheat
growing began in the 1880s and by 1906, 31,000 bags of wheat and 470 bales of wool
had been exported from Streaky Bay by ship. By this time a telegraph office had been established and regular mail
deliveries were made from Port Lincoln
.
Pastoralists moved into the area from 1854. The town was officially proclaimed in 1872, originally called Flinders, but was changed in 1940 to Streaky Bay to reflect local usage of the name.
In September 1918, a massive Blue Whale
over 26 metres long, was cast onto rocks on Gibson's Peninsula. Its skeleton
is still on display in the South Australian Museum
.
show a great variety of landscapes, from largely untouched native scrubland and farming country to cliffs and extensive surf beaches
.
The inland areas of the district are largely dominated by pastoral country; however areas such as the Calpatanna Waterhole Conservation Park located 30 km SE of Streaky Bay represents an example of the original coastal and salt lake environments, where wildlife still abounds. Possibly the areas most interesting geological features
are Murphy’s Haystacks
. These pink granite
formations have been dated at 1590 million years old
.
The features that most commonly draw tourists are along the immense stretch of coastline surrounding the bay. The Bay itself is relatively protected and quiet stretches of beach can be found along most of its length. However, where the coastline is exposed to the swell
s of the Southern Ocean
, cliffs are exposed, along with sheltered areas that harbour large rockpools, such as Smooth Pool and The Granites. The islands of the Nuyts Archipelago
lie to the north-west.
Streaky Bay has a mild climate
with the average a few degrees above Adelaide in
summer
and winter
with an average rainfall of 378 mm per year.
and fishing
have long been the primary industries of the Streaky Bay region, with modern aquaculture
now playing a large part in the local economy.
The local economy is strongly dominated by agriculture, with an emphasis on wheat
, barley
and other cereals as well as sheep. Due to the relatively arid
conditions, dryland farming
techniques are successfully applied. Recent diversification has seen the successful testing of Damara sheep, Boer goats and olives which all offer potential future investments.
Commercial fishing has played a major role in the economy of the area since the early 1900s, with Snapper
and King George Whiting
being the main targets of fishermen.
More recently, aquaculture of oysters and abalone
has also expanded and thrived in the waters of Streaky Bay.
Tourism
is an ever growing component of the local economy, with town numbers swelling during the summer holidays and at Easter
. Tourists are attracted by the many natural attractions of the area as well as a host of recreational activities. The most popular of these is undoubtedly recreational fishing
, with hundreds of anglers flocking to the area to sample the renowned whiting on offer. Beach, rock and boat fishing are available, with a recently built boat ramp to cater for the boaters wishing to explore the area. King George whiting
, Snapper
and Blue Swimmer Crabs
are the most commonly targeted species, with many more available.
Other activities include hiking
, surfing
, snorkelling and scuba diving
, with guided charters being available.
At the 2001 census, Streaky Bay had a population of 1,077. The vast majority of residents were born in Australia
; with around 100 having been born overseas, primarily in the United Kingdom
. The 2001 census found Christianity to be the prevalent religion in the district with Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Churches being the major denominations.
There are several churches in the area as well as a variety of active sports clubs, including football
, cricket
, bowls
, netball
, golf
and a swimming pool.
The district has strong health and education
services in the form of the Streaky Bay Hospital, the local Area School and public library.
comprise the District Council of Streaky Bay
local government
area. Streaky Bay is included in the State Electoral District of Flinders
and the Federal Division of Grey
. The current mayor
of Streaky Bay is Ian Gunn.
services to and from Adelaide
do operate, as does the Streaky Bay Airport
. The Streaky Bay Airport is situated approximately 10 kilometres to the east of the town (Streaky Bay to Port Lincoln Highway). The facilities are open 24 hours a day with pilot activated, fully automated lighting facilities available.
From 17 April 2009 Banksia Adventures will start a charter service to Adelaide with a plane from Renaissance Air every Friday and Sunday plus one morning and evening return flights on the third Wednesday of each month Residents and visitors are able to also access flights from either Ceduna Airport
or Port Lincoln Airport
.
Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...
, in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
just off the Flinders Highway
Flinders Highway, South Australia
Flinders Highway connects the South Australian towns of Ceduna and Port Lincoln, a distance of 410 kilometres. The highway was formerly designated as National Route Alternate 1 and currently signed as B100...
303 km north west of Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln, South Australia
- Transport :Port Lincoln is the port for the isolated narrow gauge Eyre Peninsular Railway.There is also a subsidiary port at Proper Bay which may be restored to use for iron ore traffic. The export of iron ore through Port Lincoln has been approved by the South Australian Government. Port...
and 727 km by road from Adelaide. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Streaky Bay had a population of 1,059.
The town of Streaky Bay is the major population centre of the District Council of Streaky Bay
District Council of Streaky Bay
The District Council of Streaky Bay is a Local Government Area in South Australia located on the Eyre Peninsula. The Council was established in 1887, at a time when there was a population 111 people....
, and the centre of an agricultural district farming cereal crops and sheep, as well as having established fishing and tourism industries.
History
The first EuropeanEuropean ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
to sight the area was Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
explorer Pieter Nuyts
Pieter Nuyts
Pieter Nuyts or Nuijts was a Dutch explorer, diplomat, and politician.He was part of a landmark expedition of the Dutch East India Company in 1626–27, which mapped the southern coast of Australia. He became the Dutch ambassador to Japan in 1627, and he was appointed Governor of Formosa in the same...
, in 1627 in the Golden Zeepaard. A monument has been erected on the median strip in Bay Road.
In 1802 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...
named Streaky Bay whilst on his voyage in the Investigator. In his log of 5 February 1802, he describes:
- "And the water was much discoloured in Streaks... and I called it Streaky Bay"
It is now known thought these streaks are caused by the release of oils by certain species of seaweed
Seaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
in the bay.
In 1839, Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
, the renowned explorer, established a small base about 3 kilometres from the Streaky Bay Township which he used as a store for his overland expeditions to Point Bell. This site, known as Eyre's Waterhole, can still be seen today just off the road to Port Kenny.
Wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
growing began in the 1880s and by 1906, 31,000 bags of wheat and 470 bales of wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
had been exported from Streaky Bay by ship. By this time a telegraph office had been established and regular mail
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
deliveries were made from Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln, South Australia
- Transport :Port Lincoln is the port for the isolated narrow gauge Eyre Peninsular Railway.There is also a subsidiary port at Proper Bay which may be restored to use for iron ore traffic. The export of iron ore through Port Lincoln has been approved by the South Australian Government. Port...
.
Pastoralists moved into the area from 1854. The town was officially proclaimed in 1872, originally called Flinders, but was changed in 1940 to Streaky Bay to reflect local usage of the name.
In September 1918, a massive Blue Whale
Blue Whale
The blue whale is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales . At in length and or more in weight, it is the largest known animal to have ever existed....
over 26 metres long, was cast onto rocks on Gibson's Peninsula. Its skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
is still on display in the South Australian Museum
South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum is a museum in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 1856. It occupies a complex of buildings on North Terrace in the cultural precinct of the Adelaide Parklands.-History:...
.
Geography
Streaky Bay and the surrounding districtDistrict
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
show a great variety of landscapes, from largely untouched native scrubland and farming country to cliffs and extensive surf beaches
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
.
The inland areas of the district are largely dominated by pastoral country; however areas such as the Calpatanna Waterhole Conservation Park located 30 km SE of Streaky Bay represents an example of the original coastal and salt lake environments, where wildlife still abounds. Possibly the areas most interesting geological features
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
are Murphy’s Haystacks
Murphy's Haystacks, South Australia
Murphys Haystacks are inselberg rock formations located between Streaky Bay and Port Kenny on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.They obtained their name because a traveller in a coach saw the formation in the distance. He asked how a farmer could produce so much hay. As the farm was on a...
. These pink granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
formations have been dated at 1590 million years old
History of Earth
The history of the Earth describes the most important events and fundamental stages in the development of the planet Earth from its formation 4.578 billion years ago to the present day. Nearly all branches of natural science have contributed to the understanding of the main events of the Earth's...
.
The features that most commonly draw tourists are along the immense stretch of coastline surrounding the bay. The Bay itself is relatively protected and quiet stretches of beach can be found along most of its length. However, where the coastline is exposed to the swell
Swell
Swell may refer to:*Swell , a formation of long wavelength ocean surface waves*Swell , an indie rock band from San Francisco*Swell, Gloucestershire, England*Swell , a term in bookbinding...
s of the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
, cliffs are exposed, along with sheltered areas that harbour large rockpools, such as Smooth Pool and The Granites. The islands of the Nuyts Archipelago
Nuyts Archipelago
The Nuyts Archipelago, including the Isles of St Francis, comprises a group of mainly small and mostly granitic islands lying off Ceduna, South Australia, at the eastern end of the Great Australian Bight and the north-western coast of the Eyre Peninsula...
lie to the north-west.
Streaky Bay has a mild climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
with the average a few degrees above Adelaide in
summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
and winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
with an average rainfall of 378 mm per year.
Economy
AgricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
have long been the primary industries of the Streaky Bay region, with modern aquaculture
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
now playing a large part in the local economy.
The local economy is strongly dominated by agriculture, with an emphasis on wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
and other cereals as well as sheep. Due to the relatively arid
Arid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
conditions, dryland farming
Dryland farming
Dryland farming is an agricultural technique for non-irrigated cultivation of drylands.-Locations:Dryland farming is used in the Great Plains, the Palouse plateau of Eastern Washington, and other arid regions of North America, the Middle East and in other grain growing regions such as the steppes...
techniques are successfully applied. Recent diversification has seen the successful testing of Damara sheep, Boer goats and olives which all offer potential future investments.
Commercial fishing has played a major role in the economy of the area since the early 1900s, with Snapper
Australasian snapper
The Australasian snapper or Pagrus auratus is a species of porgie found in coastal waters of New Zealand and Australia. Although it is almost universally known in these countries as snapper it does not belong to the Lutjanidae family...
and King George Whiting
King George whiting
The King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctatus , is a coastal marine fish of the smelt-whitings family Sillaginidae. The King George whiting is endemic to Australia, inhabiting the south coast of the country from Jurien Bay, Western Australia to Botany Bay, New South Wales in the east...
being the main targets of fishermen.
More recently, aquaculture of oysters and abalone
Abalone
Abalone , from aulón, are small to very large-sized edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis...
has also expanded and thrived in the waters of Streaky Bay.
Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is an ever growing component of the local economy, with town numbers swelling during the summer holidays and at Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
. Tourists are attracted by the many natural attractions of the area as well as a host of recreational activities. The most popular of these is undoubtedly recreational fishing
Recreational fishing
Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is fishing for pleasure or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is fishing for profit, or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival....
, with hundreds of anglers flocking to the area to sample the renowned whiting on offer. Beach, rock and boat fishing are available, with a recently built boat ramp to cater for the boaters wishing to explore the area. King George whiting
King George whiting
The King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctatus , is a coastal marine fish of the smelt-whitings family Sillaginidae. The King George whiting is endemic to Australia, inhabiting the south coast of the country from Jurien Bay, Western Australia to Botany Bay, New South Wales in the east...
, Snapper
Australasian snapper
The Australasian snapper or Pagrus auratus is a species of porgie found in coastal waters of New Zealand and Australia. Although it is almost universally known in these countries as snapper it does not belong to the Lutjanidae family...
and Blue Swimmer Crabs
Portunus pelagicus
Portunus pelagicus, also known as the flower crab, blue crab, blue swimmer crab, blue manna crab or sand crab, is a large crab found in the intertidal estuaries of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Middle-Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The name "flower crab" is used in east Asian...
are the most commonly targeted species, with many more available.
Other activities include hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, snorkelling and scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, with guided charters being available.
Community
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...
; with around 100 having been born overseas, primarily in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The 2001 census found Christianity to be the prevalent religion in the district with Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Churches being the major denominations.
There are several churches in the area as well as a variety of active sports clubs, including football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and a swimming pool.
The district has strong health and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
services in the form of the Streaky Bay Hospital, the local Area School and public library.
Government
Streaky Bay and its districts, including settlements such as Sceale BaySceale Bay, South Australia
Sceale Bay is a small town 32 km south of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. With a permanent population of only 28, the town's numbers increase by threefold over the summer holiday period. The town is primarily an isolated holiday destination, with nothing in the way of commerce...
comprise the District Council of Streaky Bay
District Council of Streaky Bay
The District Council of Streaky Bay is a Local Government Area in South Australia located on the Eyre Peninsula. The Council was established in 1887, at a time when there was a population 111 people....
local government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
area. Streaky Bay is included in the State Electoral District of Flinders
Electoral district of Flinders
Flinders is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after explorer Matthew Flinders, who was responsible for charting most of the state's coastline. It is a 55,260.6 km² coastal rural electorate encompassing the Eyre Peninsula and...
and the Federal Division of Grey
Division of Grey
The Division of Grey is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir George Grey, who was Governor of South Australia 1841-45 ....
. The current mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Streaky Bay is Ian Gunn.
Transport
Transport to and from Streaky Bay is usually done by car via the Flinders Highway, but BusBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
services to and from Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
do operate, as does the Streaky Bay Airport
Streaky Bay Airport
Streaky Bay Airport is an airport serving Streaky Bay, a town in the state of South Australia in Australia.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has two runways: 13/31 has an asphalt surface measuring and 05/23 has a gravel surface measuring ....
. The Streaky Bay Airport is situated approximately 10 kilometres to the east of the town (Streaky Bay to Port Lincoln Highway). The facilities are open 24 hours a day with pilot activated, fully automated lighting facilities available.
From 17 April 2009 Banksia Adventures will start a charter service to Adelaide with a plane from Renaissance Air every Friday and Sunday plus one morning and evening return flights on the third Wednesday of each month Residents and visitors are able to also access flights from either Ceduna Airport
Ceduna Airport
Ceduna Airport is an airport in Ceduna, South Australia.-Airlines and destinations:...
or Port Lincoln Airport
Port Lincoln Airport
Port Lincoln Airport is an airport serving Port Lincoln, a city in the Australian state of South Australia. It is located north of Port Lincoln, near the township of North Shields. The airport is owned and operated by the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula...
.