Green Island (Western Australia)

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Green Island from Bayonet Head
Green Island from Bayonet Head

Green Island is an island in Oyster Harbour located approximately 6.5 kilometres (4 mi) northeast of Albany in Western Australia.

The island has a total area of 2 hectares (5 acres) and was designated as a Class 1A Nature Reserve in 1988.[1]

The nearest point on the mainland is Bayonet Head that is located approximately 750 metres (2,461 ft) North West of the island.

[edit] History

Green Island was named by George Vancouver who also named Oyster Harbour when he visited the area in 1791.[2]

When the colony in Albany was first settled in 1826 Green Island was planted for vegetables and by 1830 supported a vegetable garden and a hut was erected on the island for the gardener to live in.[3]

In 1827, a group of sealers took 5 Aborigines to Green Island to catch birds. The sealers rowed away, leaving the Aborigines behind, then returned the next day bringing water. The Aborigines attempted to take the boat and the sealers fired on them killing one Aboriginal man.[4] The remaining Aborigines were removed to Michaelmas Island and left there making "great lamentations".[5]

In 1991, the government department Fisheries Western Australia granted a fish farm license to the company Ocean Foods who have leases North and North East of Green Island where blue mussels are farmed".[6]

[edit] Fauna

The island is noted as an important breeding ground for small numbers of the Australian Pelican. It was estimated in 1993 that 7 active nests were located on the island.[7]

Green Island from Bayonet Head

Green Island in Oyster Harbour from the lookout at Bayonet Head

[edit] References

  1. ^ Terrestrial Protected Areas of WA (2004). Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  2. ^ WA Information - Albany (2003). Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
  3. ^ Complicating the Friendly Frontier - Snake Bite, Medicine and Sorcery at King George Sound , 1830 (2004). Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  4. ^ Southern Indian Ocean Expedition 2002 (2003). Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
  5. ^ Southern Indian Ocean Expedition 2002 (2003). Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
  6. ^ Albany Waterways Resource Book (1999). Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
  7. ^ Aussie Heritage - Oyster Harbour (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.

Coordinates: 34°59′11″S 117°56′59″E / -34.98639, 117.94972

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