Curlew Island (South Australia)

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Curlew Island
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Curlew Island
Geography
Location Spencer Gulf
Coordinates 32°32′25″S137°46′18″E / 32.5404°S 137.7716°E / -32.5404; 137.7716 Coordinates: 32°32′25″S137°46′18″E / 32.5404°S 137.7716°E / -32.5404; 137.7716
Administration
Australia

Curlew Island is a low mangrove-dominated island located near the head of Spencer Gulf, South Australia. It lies between Port Augusta and Point Lowly and is adjacent to the Playford B Power Station. Several ships ran aground in the shallow waters surrounding the island during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Several recreational boating accidents have also occurred in the vicinity (some involving fatalities). The locality is known for its fishing and for occasional whale sightings in the winter.

Contents

History

In 1863, the island was described to mariners as "merely a large, thick patch of mangroves, separated from the point by a narrow channel, dry at low water... has a small sandy knoll at its north end, which only covers at high water springs." [1]

On 29 June 1882, the Government approved of a recommendation to construct a magazine for powder and a smaller one for dynamite at Port Augusta to be placed on Curlew Island. [2]

In July 1889, the first load of sea shells removed from Curlew Island was shipped to Port Pirie for use at the smelters. [3]

In 1932, the Port Augusta Yacht Club sailed to Curlew Island and held a picnic ashore there. [4] Picnics have been enjoyed there by many social groups, businesses and residents of nearby towns including Wilmington and Quorn. [5] Picnics were sometimes held to farewell a community member who was leaving the region.

In June 1950, the possibility of 'dredging away' Curlew Island was announced. A swinging basin was determined to provide deep-water access to the newly proposed northern power station. [6] Such a basin would allow ships to turn easily and unload equipment imported from England. [7]

Maritime incidents

Ship groundings

On 28 March 1878 the steamer Governor Musgrave en route to Port Augusta ran aground opposite Curlew Island. This prompted a request for a dredge to work in the channel. [8]

On 2 December 1885, the barque Sedwell Jane was aground at Curlew Island. [9]

On 14 March 1894, the steamer Melbourne, loaded with coal, ran aground at the Double Beacon near Curlew Island. [10]

Iron Monarch

Postcard of the merchant vessel Iron Monarch (formerly SS Koolonga) pre-1937. Iron Monarch pre-1937.jpg
Postcard of the merchant vessel Iron Monarch (formerly SS Koolonga) pre-1937.

On 18 February 1930 the Broken Hill Proprietary Company's steamer Iron Monarch ran aground on a sandbank inside No.6 Beacon near Curlew Island while en route to Port Augusta. She had aboard 6,500 tonnes of coal to deliver for the use of Commonwealth Railways. [11] After it was realized that the vessel would not float on the rising tide, tugs and barges were sent from Port Pirie to unload the cargo and transship it to its destination. After unloading 1,600 tonnes of cargo, [12] the vessel was freed on 27 February, only to demolish a beacon and strand again on another sand bank 18 kilometres (11 miles) out from Port Augusta (Commissariat Point). Once freed again with assistance from the tug Yacka, the vessel proceeded to Port Augusta to finish unloading its cargo. Its next consignment was to transport iron ore from Whyalla to Newcastle for steel-making. [13]

Boating accidents

Wildlife

The mangroves of Curlew Island provide habitat for cormorants. Cormorants were considered competition by fishermen in the early 1900s. They were deliberately culled in efforts to improve the abundance of fish in South Australian waters. [22] Humpback whales have been sighted by fishermen and coastal residents in the winter near Curlew Island. Southern right whales are also sighted, though less frequently. Whale sightings in the vicinity date back to 1894 [23] with the first humpback whale sighting reported in 1913. [24] A Bryde's whale was collected south of Curlew Island by a team from the South Australian Museum in April 1989. A baleen plate from the whale went on display at the museum in Adelaide in 2000. [25]

Fishing

Fishing for snapper is popular off Curlew Island. Snapper03 melb aquarium.jpg
Fishing for snapper is popular off Curlew Island.

The waters off Curlew Island have been popular among fishermen since the late 1800s. [17] Popular targeted fish include snapper and yellowtail kingfish. [26] Fishing grounds are accessible by boat by launching from Port Augusta or Point Lowly. In March 1904, fishermen reported having unusual trouble with sharks near Curlew Island. [27]

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References

  1. ↑ "Nautical description of Port Augusta, South Australia" Sydney Morning Herald, New South Wales (1863-02-02). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  2. ↑ "Marine Board. Thursday, June 29" South Australian Register, South Australia (1882-06-30). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  3. ↑ "Country Telegrams - Port Augusta" The Advertiser, South Australia (1889-07-20). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  4. ↑ "Yachting at Port Augusta" Chronicle, South Australia (1923-03-10). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  5. ↑ "A Gulf Picnic" Chronicle, South Australia (1926-03-20). Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  6. ↑ "Survey for new wharf" News, South Australia (1950-06-14). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  7. ↑ "Dredge has powerhouse foundations" News, South Australia (1951-02-05). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  8. ↑ "Accidents, Offences &c" South Australian Chronicle & Weekly Mail, South Australia (1878-04-06). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  9. ↑ "Port Augusta" South Australian Register, South Australia (1885-12-02). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  10. ↑ "The steamer Melbourne - aground at Curlew Island" The Advertiser (1894-03-15). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  11. ↑ "Iron Monarch Aground - Cargo to be transshipped" News, South Australia (1930-02-20). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  12. ↑ "Iron Monarch Refloating Attempt Fails" Newcastle Morning Herald & Miner's Advocate, New South Wales (1930-02-27). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  13. ↑ "Iron Monarch Floated Off Bank - Reported Undamaged" News, South Australia (1930-02-27). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  14. ↑ "News of the Week" South Australian Chronicle & Weekly Mail, South Australia (1881-01-22). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  15. ↑ "Port Augusta" South Australian Register, South Australia (1883-02-19). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  16. ↑ "Narrow escape from drowning" South Australian Register, South Australia (1883-02-22). Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  17. 1 2 "Coroner's Inquest. Fatal Boat Accident" South Australian Register, South Australia (1886-03-16). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  18. ↑ "Fatal boating accident at Port Augusta" South Australian Weekly Chronicle, South Australia (1887-06-11). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  19. ↑ "Terrible boating fatality. Three lives lost." The Inquirer & Commercial News, Western Australia (1896-04-03). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  20. ↑ "Body of man found in sea" The Advertiser, South Australia (1946-04-09). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  21. ↑ "Diplomats on the wharf" Chronicle, South Australia (1946-04-18). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  22. ↑ "Correspondence - G.Marks" The Advertiser, South Australia (1904-02-12). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  23. ↑ "Country News. Port Augusta" South Australian Register, South Australia (1894-11-06). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  24. ↑ "PORT AUGUSTA" The Register, South Australia (1913-08-11). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  25. ↑ Occurrence record- Mammalogy M15373 Atlas of Living Australia. Accessed 2014-01-17.
  26. ↑ "Angling and Fishing - Port Augusta Correspondent" The Mail, South Australia (1926-02-13). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  27. ↑ "Port Augusta" Chronicle, South Australia (1904-04-02). Retrieved 2014-01-17.
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