Hardwicke Bay | |
---|---|
Location in South Australia | |
Location | Spencer Gulf, South Australia |
Coordinates | 34°44′21.24″S137°20′17.48″E / 34.7392333°S 137.3381889°E Coordinates: 34°44′21.24″S137°20′17.48″E / 34.7392333°S 137.3381889°E [1] |
Type | Bay |
Etymology | Earl of Hardwicke [2] |
Part of | Spencer Gulf |
Basin countries | Australia |
Designation | Marine Parks: Eastern Spencer Gulf [3] Southern Spencer Gulf [4] |
Max. length | about 45 km (28 mi) (north-south) [5] |
Max. width | about 33 km (21 mi) (NE-SE) [5] |
Max. depth | 29 m (95 ft) [5] |
Islands | Wardang |
Settlements | Corny Point, The Pines, Point Turton, Hardwicke Bay, Bluff Beach, Port Rickaby, Port Victoria (settlements listed from south-west to north east) |
Hardwicke Bay is a bay in the Australian state of South Australia located on the west coast of Yorke Peninsula in Spencer Gulf.
Hardwicke Bay is located on the west coast of the Yorke Peninsula within Spencer Gulf in South Australia. It lies between the headland of Corny Point at its southern extremity and the southern end of Wardang Island at its northern extremity. [6] [7] The depth of water within the bay is reported as generally in the range of 14.6 metres (48 ft) to 20.1 metres (66 ft) with the exception of the waters within 5–10 nautical miles (9.3–18.5 km; 5.8–11.5 mi) of the south coast of Wardang Island where the depths are reported as being “very irregular”. [6] The bay is reported as being suitable as an anchorage where there is a need to shelter from southerly winds, particularly as most parts of the bay has rocky bottom suitable for anchoring on. [6] The bay’s coastline consists generally of sandy beaches that rise into low sandhills with a woodland cover with occasional rocky headlands. [6] As of 2005, navigation aids within Hardwicke Bay include the Corny Point Lighthouse at the Corny Point headland and a light on Wardang Island. [7]
The bay was named after the Earl of Hardwicke by the British navigator, Matthew Flinders on 19 March 1802. [2]
Settlements located on the coast of Hardwicke Bay (from south west to north east) within localities include the following - Corny Point, The Pines, Point Turton, Hardwicke Bay, Bluff Beach, Port Rickaby and Port Victoria. [7] Port infrastructure within the bay consists of jetties and boat ramps. Jetties are located at Point Turton, Port Rickaby and Port Victoria. [7] [8] Boat ramps are located (from the south west to north east) at The Pines, Point Souttar, Point Turton, the settlement of Hardwicke Bay, Port Minlacowie, Bluff Beach, Port Rickaby and Port Victoria. [7] [9]
As of 2013, three areas within the southern end of the bay have been zoned under state planning legislation for aquaculture. [10] As of 2011, part of the north end of the bay was proposed for aquaculture under the name of the “Point Pearce prospective aquaculture zone.” [11]
Protected areas located within and adjoining the bay’s extent include the following. The Eastern Spencer Gulf Marine Park occupies the northern end of the bay as far south as Wauraltee Beach. [3] The Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park occupies the southern end of the bay. [4] The Leven Beach Conservation Park adjoins part of the south coast of the bay to the immediate west of the settlement at Point Turton. [4]
Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park, formerly Innes National Park, is an IUCN-designated protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located on the southwest tip of Yorke Peninsula about 300 kilometres (190 mi) west of the state capital of Adelaide. It is a popular destination for camping, bushwalking, fishing, surfing and scuba diving.
The Spencer Gulf is the westernmost and larger of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. It spans from the Cape Catastrophe and Eyre Peninsula in the west to Cape Spencer and Yorke Peninsula in the east.
The Yorke Peninsula Council is a local government area in South Australia. Its boundaries include most of the Yorke Peninsula. The council seat is at Maitland; the council also maintains branch offices at Minlaton and Yorketown.
Cape Spencer is a headland in the Australian state of South Australia located on the south west tip of Yorke Peninsula in the gazetted locality of Inneston. It was named after George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer by Matthew Flinders during March 1802. It has been the site of an operating navigation aid since 1950 and has been located within the Innes National Park since 1970.
Middle Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia located in Spencer Gulf within Pondalowie Bay on the south-western coast of Yorke Peninsula. It is the largest of three islands within the bay with an approximate area of 28 hectares. It first obtained protected area status as a fauna conservation reserve declared under the Crown Lands Act 1929-1966 on 16 March 1967 and is currently located within the boundaries of the Innes National Park. It is also located within a habitat protection zone of the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park. DEWNR lists the islands as 'no access' areas for the general public.
Nepean Bay is a bay located on the north-east coast of Kangaroo Island in the Australian state of South Australia about 130 kilometres south-south-west of Adelaide. It was named by the British navigator, Matthew Flinders, after Sir Evan Nepean on 21 March 1802.
Point Labatt is a headland located on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia about 39 kilometres south by east of Streaky Bay. It is notable as one of the largest Australian mainland breeding sites for Australian sea lions. The land and the sea adjoining Point Labatt is part of three protected areas - the Point Labatt Conservation Park, the Point Labatt Aquatic Reserve and the West Coast Bays Marine Park.
Pondalowie Bay is a bay in the Australian state of South Australia located on the west coast of the south-west tip of Yorke Peninsula in Spencer Gulf about 12 kilometres west of Marion Bay. The coastline of Pondalowie Bay is both within the gazetted locality of Inneston and the Innes National Park.
Royston Head is a headland in the Australian state of South Australia located on the west coast of the south-west tip of Yorke Peninsula. It forms the northern extremity of Pondalowie Bay and is connected to an island of the same name by a drying reef. It was reported as being named after Lord Royston, eldest son of Lord Hardwicke by Matthew Flinders. The head is within the Innes National Park while the waters adjoining its shores are located within the boundaries of the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park.
West Cape is a headland located on the west coast of the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia in the gazetted locality of Inneston about 14 kilometres west of the town of Marion Bay. It is the most westerly point of Yorke Peninsula. Since 1970, the headland has been located within the Innes National Park while the waters adjoining its shoreline have been located within the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park since 2012. Since 1980, it has been the site of a navigation aid in the form of a lighthouse.
Corny Point is a headland located on the west coast of the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia about 37 kilometres north west of the town of Warooka. The point is described as being "a sloping rocky double projection..." where the "coast on the N[orth] side is low and sandy whereas the coast on the S[outh] side is higher than the point itself." It is the south headland of Hardwicke Bay. It was named by Matthew Flinders on 18 March 1802. The waters adjoining its shoreline are within the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park. Since 1882, it has been the site of a navigation aid in the form of a lighthouse.
Jones Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia located at the mouth of Baird Bay in the north end of Anxious Bay about 45 kilometres south-southeast of the town of Streaky Bay on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula. The island is notable as a breeding site for Australian sea lions and Australian pelicans. The island has enjoyed protected area status since 1967 and as of 1972, it has been part of the Baird Bay Islands Conservation Park.
Corny Point lighthouse is a lighthouse located in Spencer Gulf, South Australia on the headland known as Corny Point about 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) west of the town of Corny Point.
Royston Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia at the northern end of Pondalowie Bay on the south-west extremity of Yorke Peninsula about 13 kilometres north-west of the town of Stenhouse Bay. The island has enjoyed protected area status since 1967 and since 1972, it has been part of the Innes National Park.
South Island is an island located in the Australian state of South Australia at the south end of Pondalowie Bay on the south-west extremity of Yorke Peninsula about 11 kilometres north-west by west of the town of Stenhouse Bay. The island has enjoyed protected area status since 1970 and since 1977, it has been part of the Innes National Park.
Inneston is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located on the south-western end of Yorke Peninsula about 155 kilometres west of the state capital of Adelaide. Historically, it is notable as a site for the mining of gypsum and since 1970, the majority of the land within the current extent of the locality is within the protected area called the Innes National Park.
Couch Beach is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located on the western side of Yorke Peninsula on the portion forming the south coast of Hardwicke Bay in Spencer Gulf about 130 kilometres west of the state capital of Adelaide.
The Pines is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located on the western side of Yorke Peninsula on the portion forming the south coast of Hardwicke Bay in Spencer Gulf about 131 kilometres west of the Adelaide city centre.
Point Souttar is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located on the western side of Yorke Peninsula on the portion forming the south coast of Hardwicke Bay in Spencer Gulf about 121 kilometres west of the Adelaide city centre.
Germein Bay is a bay in the Australian state of South Australia located at the northern end Spencer Gulf on the gulf's east coast to the immediate north of the city of Port Pirie. Its extent includes the port known as ‘Port Pirie’ and the former port of Port Germein. Since 2012, the majority of the bay has been within the protected area known as the Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park.