Bonnet Island

Photo of the lighthouse on Bonnet Island, Hells Gate, Tasmania

Bonnet Island is a low island with an area of 2.21 ha. It lies at the entrance to Macquarie Harbour in Western Tasmania, Australia, in the vicinity of Hells Gates. ^{[1] [2]} Due to its location and proximity to the entrance, it was involved as part the Macquarie Harbour Breakwater construction. ^[3]

Bonnet Island has a lighthouse, which was built before the Cape Sorell Lighthouse. ^[4]

Since November 2009, it has been opened up to tourists. ^[5]

As one of the Macquarie Harbour islands, and in the area of the entrance to the harbour, it has been surveyed and documented regularly. ^[6]

Fauna

About 250 pairs of little penguin breed on the island. Other species present include the metallic skink and short-tailed shearwaters. ^{[1] [5]}

References

1. Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN   0-7246-4816-X
2. Prince, William, Looking back at Bonnet Island from Arcadia on way back to Strahan , retrieved 29 January 2021
3. Photograph – Building training wall, Bonnet Island, Macquarie Harbour, Libraries Tasmania, 1920, retrieved 29 January 2021
4. "The Hells Gate Lighthouses". Archived from the original on 10 May 2006.
5. "New life for historic island". Australia: ABC News. 12 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 November 2009.
6. Pemberton, Michael; Hawkins, Clare; Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust (New Zealand); Tasmania. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (2011), The islands of Macquarie Harbour : Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, ISBN   978-0-7246-6567-9

42°13′S145°13′E / 42.217°S 145.217°E / -42.217; 145.217