Shark Island (Port Jackson)

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Shark Island is an island in Sydney Harbour, Australia. It lies offshore of the Sydney suburbs of Point Piper, Rose Bay and Vaucluse, in the eastern section of the harbour between the Harbour Bridge and the harbour entrance.

The local aboriginal peoples call the island Boambilly, or perhaps Bo-a-millie.^[1] The name Shark Island is from its shape, which is claimed to resemble a shark.^[2]

The island measures some 250 metres by 100 metres. Parts were set aside as a recreation reserve as early as 1879 and it was also used as an animal quarantine station and naval depot up until 1975. At that time it became exclusively a recreation reserve and part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. Approved operators and a scheduled ferry service take people to the island.^[3][4][5]

[edit] References

1. ^ Aboriginal People of Coastal Sydney place names chart at the Living Harbour project of the Australian Museum
2. ^ Sydney Harbour National Park - Park Maps, New South Wales Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (as at 9 September 2005)
3. ^ Sydney Harbour National Park Culture & history, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (as at 21 March 2006)
4. ^ New weekend ferry service for Sydney Harbour's Shark Island, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service press release 11 April 2003
5. ^ David Messent (1994). The Complete Guide to Sydney Harbour, ISBN 0-646-17888-1, page 130.

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