Hamelin Island lies north of Cape Hamelin, just out to sea from the former Hamelin Bay Jetty, on Hamelin Bay, on the south west coast of Western Australia, about 7 km north of Cape Leeuwin.
The location of the island, and its protection of part of the anchorage from prevailing weather and winds was observed very early in the twentieth century.[1]
Rabbits
editSome time before 1911, rabbits lived on the island.[1] A 1930 edition of the Western Mail has a photograph of the island, and calls it Rabbit Island.[2]
Wrecks
editThe Hamelin Bay was the site of many wrecks, however fewer have occurred on the island. One was in December 1933 of the fishing boat Toba.[3] In July 2016, a storm caused a lone sailor to strike rocks in the bay, causing the sailor to abandon ship on a small tender to seek shelter on the island.[4]
Light
editIn 1935 the Island automatic light was planned and proposed, to assist navigators in the area of Cape Leeuwin for a successful negotiation of the journey rounding at the Leeuwin area.[5]
The automatic light was constructed in 1937–1938.[6][7][8]
The light house was re-located in 1967, to higher ground behind Cape Hamelin on the mainland.
References
edit- ^ a b "Leeuwin Land". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 22 July 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 7 December 2015..
- ^ "SHEEN OF THE SEA". Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 25 December 1930. p. 56 Supplement: The Western Mail - Xmas 1930. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "FISHERMEN WRECKED". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 18 December 1933. p. 19. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "Lone yachtsman saved from sinking vessel off WA's Hamelin Bay". PerthNow. Perth, WA. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "COASTAL LIGHTS". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 25 April 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "HAMELIN ISLAND LIGHT". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1937. p. 17. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "NEW LIGHTHOUSE AT HAMELIN ISLAND". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 3 June 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "Aid to Navigation". The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 3 June 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 7 December 2015.