Green Island (Western Australia)

Green Island
Native name:
Watami (Nyungar)[1]
Green Island from Bayonet Head
Geography
Coordinates34°59′11″S 117°56′59″E / 34.98639°S 117.94972°E / -34.98639; 117.94972
Administration

Watami/Green Island[2] is an island in Oyster Harbour located approximately 6.5 kilometres (4 mi) northeast of Albany in Western Australia.

The island has a total area of 2 hectares (5 acres) and was designated as a Class 1A Nature Reserve in 1988.[3]

The nearest point on the mainland, Bayonet Head, is located approximately 750 metres (2,461 ft) northwest of the island.

History

Green Island was named by George Vancouver, who also named Oyster Harbour when he visited the area in 1791. It is one of only four permanent pelican breeding grounds in Western Australia, the others being Mandurah, Shark Bay and Rockingham. The breeding pelicans can be seen from the Kalgan Queen Riverboat, as the Island itself is a reserve.[4]

After Albany was first settled very late in 1826, Green Island was planted for vegetables. The first crop was laid in the Spring of 1827. By 1830 it was very productive and a hut had been erected for the garrison gardener to live in.[5]

In 1826, before the NSW military arrived to establish a garrison at nearby Princess Royal Harbour, a group of sealers took five Aboriginals to Green Island to catch birds. The sealers rowed away, leaving the Aboriginals behind, then returned the next day bringing water. The Aboriginals attempted to take the boat, and the sealers fired on them killing one Aboriginal man.[6] The remaining Aboriginals were removed to Michaelmas Island and left there making "great lamentations".[6]

In 1991 the government department Fisheries Western Australia granted a fish farm license to the company Ocean Foods who have leases north and northeast of Green Island where blue mussels are farmed.[7]

Fauna

The island is noted as an important breeding ground for small numbers of the Australian pelican. It was estimated in 1993 that seven active nests were located on the island.[8]

  • Green Island from Bayonet Head
    Green Island from Bayonet Head
  • Green Island in Oyster Harbour from the lookout at Bayonet Head
    Green Island in Oyster Harbour from the lookout at Bayonet Head

References

  1. ^ "Lookout for new Dual Naming signage". City of Albany. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  2. ^ "News Story - Lookout for new Dual Naming signage » City of Albany". www.albany.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Terrestrial Protected Areas of WA". 2004. Archived from the original on 28 March 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Albany, WA". 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  5. ^ "Complicating the Friendly Frontier - Snake Bite, Medicine and Sorcery at King George Sound, 1830". 2004. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  6. ^ a b "SIOE 2002: Albany & SE Western Australia; Major Edmund Lockyer's "...complete Set of Pirates"". 2009. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Albany Waterways Resource Book". 1999. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  8. ^ "Aussie Heritage - Oyster Harbour". 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
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