Seal Island (Western Australia)

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Seal Island from near Goode Beach
Seal Island from near Goode Beach

Seal Island is an island located approximately 8.5 kilometres (5 mi) South East of Albany, Western Australia. The island is located approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) off-shore from Frenchman Bay in King George Sound. The island is designated as a nature reserve (Reserve Number 32199) and has a total area of 2.8 hectares (7 acres). [1]

George Vancouver named Seal island in 1791 along with Breaksea Island, Michaelmas Island and other features around King George Sound. [2] Matthew Flinders landed on Seal Island during the voyage of the Investigator in 1801, searching for items that were reportedly left by Vancouver[3] and leaving behind a bottle containing a parchment with details of their own arrival and departure. [4]

HMAS Perth was scuttled behind Seal Island in 2001 and is now one of Western Australia's premier dive sites.[5]

The island is composed entirely of granite and is only accessible at the western end.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ South Coast Regional Management Plan 1992-2002 (2002). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  2. ^ SMH Travel - Albany (2004). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  3. ^ The Life of Matthew Flinders (2004). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  4. ^ The History of Australian Exploration Chapter XVI (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  5. ^ Albany - The Wild South West (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  6. ^ Encountering Terra Australis: The Australian Voyages of Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.

Coordinates: 35°4′31″S 117°58′29″E / -35.07528, 117.97472

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