Point Labatt

Last updated

Point Labatt
South Australia
10 Point Labatt CP 04.JPG
Point Labatt as viewed from the south
Australia South Australia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Point Labatt
Coordinates 33°9′9″S134°15′39″E / 33.15250°S 134.26083°E / -33.15250; 134.26083
Elevation60 m (197 ft) [1]

Point Labatt is a headland located on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia about 39 kilometres (24 miles) 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.

Contents

Description

Point Labatt is located in the locality of Sceale Bay on the west side of the Calca Peninsula, a small peninsula on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula, at a distance of about 40 kilometres (25 miles) South by east of Streaky Bay and about 440 kilometres (270 miles) west-northwest of Adelaide. When viewed from a platform such as a ship, Point Labatt appears as the start of a line of uninterrupted cliffs starting at a height of 60 metres (200 feet) that runs in a south easterly direction and that rises to a height of 135 metres (443 feet) at Cape Radstock, the north head of Anxious Bay. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Formation, geology and oceanography

Point Labatt as a headland was formed when the sea reached its present level 7,500 years ago after sea levels started to rise at the start of the Holocene. [6]

Point Labatt and the adjoining cliff line consists of a calcarenite known as the Bridgewater formation overlying a red granite known as the Hiltaba Suite. The cliff top are finished with a soil consisting generally of a thin layer of calcareous material. [1] The water adjoining the base of Point Labatt drops to a depth of 50 metres (160 feet) within a distance of 300 metres (980 feet) of its shore. [3]

Naming

Point Labatt was named as Labatt Point in 1908 after Mr. J. B. Labatt, the Assistant Engineer of Harbours in the South Australian Government. [7]

Flora and fauna

Flora

The flora present at Point Labatt consists of a combination of both low shrubland and low open shrubland. The low shrubland features the following plant species: Ribbed thryptomene, Coastal Daisybush, Melaleuca lanceolata , Triodia irritans and Lepidosperma concavum . The low open shrubland features the following plant species: Melaleuca halmaturorum , Calocephalus brownii , Maireana oppositifolia , Grey Saltbush and Nitre Bush. [8]

Fauna

The coastline immediately adjoining the point supports a colony of Australia sea lions which is notable as being one of the largest mainland breeding sites for this species in Australia. Other species of Pinniped sighted at Point Labatt include Australian fur seal and New Zealand fur seal. Other mammal species possibly include the western grey kangaroo and the euro while known to occur on the CaIca Peninsula, but have not been recorded in the vicinity of Point Labatt as of 1995. The following feral mammal species have been recorded at the locality: cats, foxes and rabbits. [8] As of 1995, the following bird species have recorded as being present at Point Labatt: cormorants, gulls, terns, swallows, and kestrels. [8] As of 1995, the following reptile species are recorded as being present: the shingle back lizard and a species of dragon lizard. [8]

History

Aboriginal use

As of 1995, the extent of use of Point Labatt and adjoining land by the Nauo people, the Aboriginal people who lived in the locality prior to European colonisation is not known. [9]

European use

The land that adjoins Point Labatt was used for agricultural purposes until it was donated in 1972 by Ron, Myra and Ellen Freeman for the purpose of creating a protected area for the Australian sea lion colony. The ocean immediately adjoining the point was a popular site for snorkelling with Australian sea lions prior to 1988. [10] [11] Point Labatt is considered to an important tourist destination within the District Council of Streaky Bay, particularly as it and Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island are the only two places where Australian sea-lions can be easily observed in their natural habitat. [12] [13]

Protected area status

The point is associated with three protected areas. The first is the Point Labatt Conservation Park. The second is the Point Labatt Aquatic Reserve which protects the body of water immediately the south west of the conservation park's coastal frontage. [14] The third is the West Coast Bays Marine Park which consists of a restricted access zone immediately the point. [15] [10] [14] [16]

The point, some coastline to its immediate east and west as well as the adjoining waters with a total area of 147 hectares (360 acres) has been listed as a "wetland of national importance" in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia since 1996. [17]

Citations and references

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 DENR, 1995, page 1
  2. ↑ Sailing Directions (Enroute), Pub. 175: North, West, and South Coasts of Australia (PDF). Sailing Directions . United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017. p. 178.
  3. 1 2 DMH, 1985, chart 39
  4. ↑ DMH, 1985, chart 41
  5. ↑ "Search result for "Point Labatt (PT)" (Record no SA0038119) with the following layers selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and " Place names (gazetteer)"". Property Location Browse r. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Robinson, 1989-90, page 26.
  7. ↑ "The Latest Place Naming". The Register. 17 September 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 DENR, 1995, page 3
  9. ↑ DENR, 1995, page 5
  10. 1 2 DENR. 1995, page 5
  11. ↑ Meares, Pietre (11 September 1974). "Two-year safari around Australia followed the Sun". The Australian Women's Weekly. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  12. ↑ DENR, 1995, page 6
  13. ↑ "Point Labatt Sealion Drive". Streaky Bay Rural Transaction & Visitor Information Centre. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  14. 1 2 PIRSA, 2007
  15. ↑ DEWNR, 2012, page 24 of 26
  16. ↑ "Summary of SA Marine Protected Areas by Type (see 'SA Reserve List' tab)". Australian Government - Department of the Environment. 10 February 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  17. ↑ Eyles et al, 2001, pages 73 & 77

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eyre Peninsula</span> Place in South Australia

The Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded by the Spencer Gulf on the east, the Great Australian Bight on the west, and the Gawler Ranges to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seal Bay Conservation Park</span> Protected area in South Australia

Seal Bay Conservation Park is a protected area located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island in the Australian state of South Australia. It is the home of the third largest Australian sea lion colony in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Investigator Group</span> Archipelago of Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

The Investigator Group is an archipelago in South Australia that consists of Flinders Island and five island groups located off the western coast of the Eyre Peninsula. It is named after HMS Investigator by her commander, Matthew Flinders when he explored the area in 1802. The Group lies within the Great Australian Bight. All the islands except Flinders Island, and a part of Pearson Island, are within the Investigator Group Wilderness Protection Area and the Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Labatt Conservation Park</span> Protected area in South Australia

Point Labatt Conservation Park is a protected area occupying Point Labatt on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia about 39 kilometres South by east of Streaky Bay. The conservation park was proclaimed in July 1973 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 for the purpose of protecting what is considered to be ‘the largest colony of Australian sea lions on mainland Australia’. The conservation park was formed on land donated in 1972 by Ron, Myra and Ellen Freeman who were concerned that ‘illegal shooting was threatening these once endangered animals.’ The Point Labatt Aquatic Reserve, an associated protected area, was proclaimed in October 1988 under the Fisheries Act 1982 for the purpose of protecting an area of adjoining ocean used by the colony as a feeding ground. The conservation park is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area.

Nicolas Baudin Island Conservation Park is a protected area associated with Nicolas Baudin Island which is located off Cape Blanche on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia about 30 kilometres south of Streaky Bay. The conservation park was proclaimed in 2003 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 to ‘protect a significant breeding location for the Australian sea lion.’

Smooth Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia located off the west coast of Eyre Peninsula about 52 kilometres south west of the town of Ceduna. It is both part of a local group of islands known as the Isles of St Francis group and a larger group known as the Nuyts Archipelago. It has enjoyed protected area status since the 1960s and since 2011, it has been part of the Nuyts Archipelago Wilderness Protection Area.

Beatrice Islets are pair of islets in the Australian state of South Australia located in Nepean Bay on the north coast of Kangaroo Island about 4 kilometres east of Kingscote. The islets and adjoining intertidal areas are notable as habitat for bird life. The islet pair has enjoyed protected area status since 1909 and since at least 1972, have been part of the Beatrice Islet Conservation Park. During either the 1960s or the 1970s, the islets were extensively damaged by an exercise to remove an infestation of South African boxthorn.

Nicolas Baudin Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia about 500 metres west of Cape Blanche on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula about 25 kilometres south south-west of the town of Streaky Bay. The island is notable as a breeding site for Australian sea lions. The island has enjoyed protected area status since 2003 when it became part of the Nicolas Baudin Island Conservation Park.

Ward Islands is an island group in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Investigator Group about 53 kilometres west by south of Cape Finniss on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula. The group was discovered and named by Matthew Flinders on 13 February 1802. The island group has enjoyed protected area status since the 1960s and since 2011, it been part of the Investigator Group Wilderness Protection Area.

Topgallant Islands is an island group in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Investigator Group about 22 kilometres south west of Cape Finniss on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula. The group was discovered and named by Matthew Flinders on 13 February 1802. The island group has enjoyed protected area status since the 1960s and since 2011, it has been part of the Investigator Group Wilderness Protection Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldegrave Islands</span> Islands in South Australia

Waldegrave Islands is an island group in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Investigator Group about 2.5 kilometres northwest by west of Cape Finniss on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula. The group consists of Waldegrave Island, Little Waldegrave Island and according to some sources, a pair of rocks known as the Watchers. The group is notable as a breeding site for Australian sea lions and Cape Barren geese. The group has enjoyed protected area status since the 1960s and as of 1972 has been part of the Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park.

Cape Radstock is a headland located on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia about 45 kilometres south south-east of the town of Streaky Bay and about 9.3 kilometres (5 nmi) south east of Point Labatt. The cape is both the north western extremity of Anxious Bay and the southern extremity of the Calca Peninsula. The cape is described as being “steep and bold” and where the cliffs reach a height of 135 metres, being the high point of a line of cliffs starting at Point Labatt in the west and from within Anxious Bay in the east. It was named by Matthew Flinders on 9 February 1802 after William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock. Since 2012, the waters adjoining its shoreline are within a habitat protection zone in the West Coast Bays Marine Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calca Peninsula</span> Place in South Australia

Calca Peninsula is a peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia located on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in the locality of Sceale Bay about 27 kilometres to about 46 kilometres south-east of the town of Streaky Bay.

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.

Dorothee Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia which is part of the Pearson Isles which itself is part of the larger island grouping known as the Investigator Group. It is located about 69 kilometres west south-west of Cape Finniss on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula. It was discovered as part of the Pearson Isles by Matthew Flinders on 13 February 1802. The island was given its name in August 1969 in order to preserve a name used within the locality by the Baudin expedition. The island has enjoyed protected area status since at least 1972 and since 2011, it been part of the Investigator Group Wilderness Protection Area.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Island (South Australia)</span> Island in South Australia

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.

Unnamed island is an island located in South Australia within Baird Bay about 32 kilometres south by west of the town of Streaky Bay on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula. The island has enjoyed protected area status since 1967 and it has been part of the Baird Bay Islands Conservation Park since 1972.

Hardwicke Bay is a bay in the Australian state of South Australia located on the west coast of Yorke Peninsula in Spencer Gulf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Labatt Aquatic Reserve</span> Protected area in South Australia

Point Labatt Aquatic Reserve is a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the waters of the Great Australian Bight adjoining the west coast of Eyre Peninsula at the headland of Point Labatt.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.