North West Cape

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Exmouth cape range beach Exmouth caperange beach.jpg
Exmouth cape range beach

North West Cape is a peninsula in the north-west of Western Australia. Cape Range runs down the spine of the peninsula and Ningaloo Reef runs along the western edge. It is in the Gascoyne region and includes the town of Exmouth.

Contents

History

In 1618, Dutch East India Company captain Lenaert Jacobszoon and supercargo Willem Janszoon of the Mauritius landed in the area. [1] Phillip Parker King later visited in 1818 and named it North West Cape as well as naming Exmouth Gulf after senior naval officer Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth. Later, pearl luggers visited the area from Broome. [1] During World War II a military operation codenamed Operation Potshot was done in the area. [2] The first oil flow in Australia was discovered there in 1953 at Rough Range, by exploration company WAPET.

Exmouth Gulf Station takes up much of the eastern side of the peninsula backing onto Exmouth Gulf.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ningaloo Station</span> Pastoral lease in Western Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exmouth Gulf Station</span> Pastoral lease in Western Australia

Exmouth Gulf Station or Exmouth Station is a pastoral lease and sheep station located in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Exmouth. Occupying an area of 92,364 hectares, the station occupies much of the eastern side of North West Cape; the eastern boundary of the station is the gulf, from which the station takes its name.

Main Roads Western Australia controls the major roads in the state's Gascoyne region. North West Coastal Highway, a north-south route near the coastline, is the main highway the region. A series of main roads connect coastal towns to the highway, and local roads provide additional links and access to the inland portion of the region. Roads are often named after the towns or areas they connect.

Yinikutira, also recorded as the Jinigudira, are the traditional Aboriginal owners of the Country along the Ningaloo Coast in the area of the Exmouth Peninsula in Western Australia now known as the Cape Range National Park. The area is within the Gascoyne region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vlamingh Head Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse on North West Cape in Western Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exmouth Submarine Base</span> Former United States Navy Base

Exmouth Submarine Base, called Operation Potshot, was a United States Navy base at Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia during World War II. Exmouth Gulf on the western Australia was selected as the site for US Naval base as it was thought at the time to be out of the reach of Japan's long-range bombers. Bombing of Darwin on February 19, 1942, demonstrated a more southern port was needed. The Submarine operation at Exmouth Gulf and the North West Cape was called Operation Potshot, named after the Potshot airfield that provided fighter planes cover for the base.

References

  1. 1 2 "Exmouth and NW Cape: History". Exmouth Visitor Centre. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  2. Dunn, Peter (19 January 2020). "US Navy Submarine Base at Exmouth Gulf". Australia@War. Retrieved 17 October 2022.

Coordinates: 22°14′S113°58′E / 22.23°S 113.96°E / -22.23; 113.96