Gabo Island

Gabo Island
Gabo Island (Shire of East Gippsland)
Geography
Location Bass Strait
Coordinates 37°33′47″S 149°54′39″E / 37.5629167°S 149.9109722°ECoordinates: 37°33′47″S 149°54′39″E / 37.5629167°S 149.9109722°E
Country
Australia
State Victoria
Gabo Island Lighthouse

Gabo Island lighthouse on an old engraving
Location Off eastern Victoria, Australia
Coordinates 37°33′33″S 149°54′41″E / 37.559067°S 149.911375°E
Year first lit 1862
Construction Granite
Tower shape Conical
Markings / pattern Unpainted pink granite tower, white lantern
Height 47 metres (154 ft)
Focal height 55 metres (180 ft)
Characteristic Fl.(3) 20s
Admiralty number K2558
NGA number 6592
ARLHS number AUS-078

Gabo Island is a 154-hectare (380-acre) island located off the coast of eastern Victoria, Australia, between Mallacoota and Cape Howe on the border with New South Wales. It is separated from the mainland by a 500 metres (1,600 ft) wide channel; access is available by arranged flights and boats.[1] Gabo Island is a shipping reference commonly referred to in Victorian weather warnings issued by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Lighthouse

It is well known for its historic lighthouse, made from pink granite quarried from the island itself. The lighthouse is Australia's second tallest. The focal plane of the light is situated at 55 metres (180 ft) above sea level, the characteristic is a group of three flashes that occurs every twenty seconds. A keeper's house is occupied by a caretaker; another building may be rented for overnight stays.[2]

Birds

The island is home to the world's largest colony of little penguins.[1] Gabo, with the tiny associated islet of Tullaberga at its southern end, has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because of the numbers of breeding penguins (up to 21,000 pairs) and white-faced storm petrels (up to 20,000 pairs).[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Parks Victoria. "Gabo Island".
  2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Australia: Victoria". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  3. "IBA: Gabo and Tullaberga Islands". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 2011-06-23.

External links