Western Port, also known as Western Port Bay, is a large tidal Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of the Earth. Most places in the ocean usually experience two high tides and two low tides each day , but some locations experience only one high and one low tide each day (diurnal tide). The tidal bay Headlands and bays are often found together on the same stretch of coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high, breaking waves, rocky shores, intense erosion, and steep sea cliffs. Bays generally have less wave activity than the water outside in southern Victoria Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales to the north, South Australia to the west, and Tasmania to the south, across the Bass Strait. Victoria is the most densely populated state, and has a highly centralised population, with over 70% of Victorians, Australia For at least 40,000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of the roughly 250 language groups. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the immediate north and discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Britain in 177 opening into Bass Strait Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria. It is the second largest bay in Victoria. Geographically, the bay is dominated by the two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. Contrary to its name, it lies to the east of the larger Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or just The Bay) is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers 1,930 square kilometres (480,000 acres) and the shore stretches roughly 264 km (164 mi). Although it is extremely shallow for its size, most of the bay is, and is separated from it by the Mornington Peninsula. In its southern reaches, life such as Australian Fur Seals, whales Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales). This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga whale. The other Cetacean suborder and dolphins Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. They vary in size from 1.2 m and 40 kg (90 lb) (Maui's Dolphin), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and 10 tonnes (9.8 LT; 11 ST) (the Orca or Killer Whale). They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the exist, while its northern reaches are inhabited by many bird Birds are winged, bipedal, endothermic (warm-blooded), egg-laying, vertebrate animals. There are around 10,000 living species, making them the most varied of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from the 5 cm (2 in) Bee Hummingbird to the 2.75 m (9 ft) Ostrich species including the waterbird Anatidae is the biological family that includes the ducks, geese and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica and on most of the world's islands and island groups. These are birds that are evolutionarily adapted for swimming, floating on the water surface, and in some cases diving, migratory Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. These however are usually irregular or in only one direction and are termed variously as nomadism, invasions, dispersal or irruptions. Migration is marked by its waders Waders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas (Stercorariidae), gulls (Laridae), terns (Sternidae), skimmers (Rynchopidae), and auks (Alcidae). Also, the pratincoles (Glareolidae) and the Crab Plover (Dromadidae), which bear, White-faced Storm-Petrel, Silver Gull, Australian Gannets amongst many others. It is listed under the Ramsar Convention The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognising the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It is named after the for its habitat for migratory water birds.[1]

The area around the bay and the two main islands were originally part of the Boonwurrung nation's territory prior to European settlement. The bay was first seen by Europeans in 1798 when an exploration crew in a whaleboat A whaleboat is a type of open boat that is relatively narrow and pointed at both ends, enabling it to move either forwards or backwards equally well. It was originally developed for whaling, and later became popular for work along beaches, since it does not need to be turned around for beaching or refloating led by George Bass, journeyed south from Sydney Sydney is the largest and most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. With an approximate population of 4.5 million in the Sydney metropolitan area the city is the largest municipality in Oceania. Inhabitants of Sydney are called Sydneysiders, to explore Australia's south eastern coastline. Due in most part to a lack of food, the expedition was halted, spending two weeks in Western Port before returning to Sydney. As it was the most westerly charted point at the time, it was named Western Port, however it actually lies in the eastern half of Victoria and to the east of the larger Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or just The Bay) is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers 1,930 square kilometres (480,000 acres) and the shore stretches roughly 264 km (164 mi). Although it is extremely shallow for its size, most of the bay is and Greater Melbourne The metropolis is located on the large natural bay known as Port Phillip, with the city centre positioned at the estuary of the Yarra River . The metropolitan area then extends south from the city centre, along the eastern and western shorelines of Port Phillip, and expands into the hinterland. The city centre is situated in the municipality known.

The bay is home to the French Island Marine National Park, while the land adjacent to the north is largely used for farming purposes including cattle and wineries. Today the bay is mostly used for recreation, however there is also a military base (HMAS Cerberus), shipping and oil production facilities adjoining the bay. Westernport Bay is around one hour from Melbourne by car and a small number of holiday villages with sandy swimming beaches lie on its shores.

Contents

History

Map of Western Port

Prior to European settlement, the Bunurong people lived around Western Port living off shellfish, mutton birds and plantlife. The bay was discovered by Europeans in 1797, when George Bass received permission from Governor Hunter in Sydney Sydney is the largest and most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. With an approximate population of 4.5 million in the Sydney metropolitan area the city is the largest municipality in Oceania. Inhabitants of Sydney are called Sydneysiders, to sail a whaleboat A whaleboat is a type of open boat that is relatively narrow and pointed at both ends, enabling it to move either forwards or backwards equally well. It was originally developed for whaling, and later became popular for work along beaches, since it does not need to be turned around for beaching or refloating along the unexplored section of coast south of Botany Bay Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, a few kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. The Cooks River and the Georges River are the two major tributaries that flow into the bay. Two runways of Sydney Airport extend into the bay. On such a rough stretch of water, Bass could not get more than halfway through the strait now known as Bass Strait. This voyage led to the discovery of Western Port, so named because of its situation relative to every other known harbour on the coast at that time. [2] (the area from Point Hicks to Cape Howe). But relative to the city of Melbourne The metropolis is located on the large natural bay known as Port Phillip, with the city centre positioned at the estuary of the Yarra River . The metropolitan area then extends south from the city centre, along the eastern and western shorelines of Port Phillip, and expands into the hinterland. The city centre is situated in the municipality known and Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or just The Bay) is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers 1,930 square kilometres (480,000 acres) and the shore stretches roughly 264 km (164 mi). Although it is extremely shallow for its size, most of the bay is, it actually lies to the East.

In the early 19th century, the bay played a role in the struggle between Britain and France. Soldiers and convicts from Sydney were ordered to form a camp at Western Port to deter possible occupation by the French. It was only after the end of World War II Albania · Australia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Belgium · Brazil · Bulgaria · Burma · Cambodia · Canada · Ceylon (Sri Lanka) · Channel Islands · China · Czechoslovakia · Denmark · Dutch East Indies · Egypt · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Gibraltar · Greece · Greenland · Hong Kong · Hungary · Iceland · that serious consideration was given to the development of the Bay as a port, and its flat shores north of Stony and Crib Points have become a centre for heavy industry.

Geography

Formerly a major river drainage system, it was inundated together with Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or just The Bay) is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers 1,930 square kilometres (480,000 acres) and the shore stretches roughly 264 km (164 mi). Although it is extremely shallow for its size, most of the bay is by the rising sea in the Holocene The Holocene is a geological epoch which began approximately 12,000 years ago . According to traditional geological thinking, the Holocene continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words ὅλος (holos, whole or entire) and καινός (kainos, new), meaning "entirely recent" period, the Western Port sunkland now forms an extensive tidal bay. The waters of Western Port cover an area of 680 km² of which 270 km², are exposed as mud flats at low tide. The topography of Western Port is dominated by two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. The coastline, including that of the islands, is some 263 km.

In the northern reaches, several rivers and creeks drain into the bay and flow through extensive mangroves, mudflats and sand banks before being channelled either side of French Island and into the open water in the southern reaches around Phillip Island. Several natural river paths and channels provide access for boats to the northern reaches however, this is highly dependent on the tides and local knowledge is essential. Up until the mid 20th century, the Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp adjoined the bay in the north, covering an area of 30-40 thousand hectares, extending inland to present day Pakenham, prior to cultivation of the land by early settlers. The mangroves in the bay's northern reaches are the only remnants of this swamp today.

The bay and it's islands are criss-crossed by seven seismically active fault lines and experiences lots of minor earthquakes every year.

Some of the major tributaries of Western Port include;

Islands

Western Port hosts a diverse range of islands, some of which include, in approximate order of size:

Ecology

Western Port from French Island

Fauna

Western Port consists of rocky platforms, sandy beaches and marine habitats. It is home to a diverse range of invertebrates An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 95% of all animal species — all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata including colonial ascidians, sponges Sponges are animals of the phylum Porifera (pronounced /pɒˈrɪfərə/). Their bodies consist of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells. While all animals have unspecialized cells that can transform into specialized cells, sponges are unique in having some specialized cells that can transform into other types, often and corals Corals are marine organisms in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton. Mudflats Mudflats are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of estuarine silts, clays and marine animal detritus. Most of the sediment within a mudflat is and mangrove Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S. The saline conditions tolerated by various species range from brackish water, through pure seawater , to water of over twice the salinity of ocean seawater, where the salt becomes concentrated by swamps around the northern end of the bay support a large number of invertebrates that are an important food source for waders Waders refers to a waterproof boot extending from the foot to the chest, traditionally made from vulcanised rubber, but available in more modern PVC, neoprene and Gore-Tex variants. Waders are generally distinguished from counterpart waterproof boots by shaft height; the hip boot extending to the thigh and the Wellington boot to the knee. They are and visiting migratory birds. French Island is home to migratory wader birds, pelican A pelican, derived from the Greek word pelekys , is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae and Short-tailed Shearwater rookeries, and many other significant fauna species.

Phillip Island Penguin Reserve has the largest colony of Little Penguins in Victoria Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales to the north, South Australia to the west, and Tasmania to the south, across the Bass Strait. Victoria is the most densely populated state, and has a highly centralised population, with over 70% of Victorians as well as major breeding colonies of Short-tailed Shearwaters, and Hooded Plovers and Peregrine Falcon The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the "Duck Hawk" in North America, is a cosmopolitan bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is a large, crow-sized falcon, with a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache". It can reach speeds over 320 km/h (200 mph) in a nesting areas. Seal Rock off Phillip Island is home to the largest colony of Australian Fur Seals and the only known breeding site of the Kelp Gull and Sooty Oyster-catcher. San Remo's marine community is a rich assemblage of marine biota listed under the State Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, 1988. The bay is listed under the Ramsar Convention The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognising the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It is named after the for its wetlands A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with moisture either permanently or seasonally. Such areas may also be covered partially or completely by shallow pools of water. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, and bogs, among others. The water found in wetlands can be saltwater, freshwater, or brackish. The world's largest wetland is the. [2]

Flora

Fairy Penguins on Phillip Island

Western Port supports a mosaic of habitat types including underwater seagrass beds, intertidal rock platforms, sandy beaches, intertidal mudflats, tidal channels, saltmarshes and mangroves. The coastline around Phillip Island is of State significance because of its remnant coastal tussock grasslands and dune scrub, a rare vegetation community in Victoria. The bay is listed under the Ramsar Convention The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognising the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It is named after the for its wetlands A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with moisture either permanently or seasonally. Such areas may also be covered partially or completely by shallow pools of water. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, and bogs, among others. The water found in wetlands can be saltwater, freshwater, or brackish. The world's largest wetland is the. [3]

Parklands

Coolart Wetlands and Homestead
French Island National Park
Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve
Mornington Peninsula National Park
French Island Marine National Park - 2,800ha
Yaringa Marine National Park - 980ha
Churchill Island Marine National Park - 670ha

Recreation

Fishing, pleasure boating and yachting are some of the popular pastimes on the bay.

Recreation on Phillip Island

Recreation on French Island

Shipping and Boating

Deep channels lead from Bass Strait Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria into the western section of the bay, giving access to the region's port facilities. The town of Hastings is the main boat landing in the bay.

There are boat launching ramps at: Stony Point -Concrete 3 lane ramp, 2 holding jetties, All Tides Blind Bight -Tarmac Single lane ramp, Holding Jetty, High Tide Corinella -Concrete 2 lane ramp, 2 Holding jetties, All Tides Hastings - Concrete 4 lane ramp, Holding Jetty, All Tides There are also ramps at Tooradin, Newhaven, Cowes, Warneet, Lang Lang, Grantville, Flinders, and Rhyll (Phillip Island).

Accommodation is available on both Phillip Island and French Island.

Industry

Western Port has several industrial complexes, including a BlueScope Steel BlueScope Steel is a flat product steel producer with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Pacific and North America. It was spun off from BHP Billiton in 2002 as BHP Steel and renamed BlueScope Steel on 17 November 2003. Its Australian Securities Exchange code is BSL steel processing works and the major Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following federation of the Australian Colonies in 1901, the former colonial navies merged to become the Commonwealth Naval Forces. From this early fleet, the Royal Australian Navy was officially established in 1911 to become the new navy of the Commonwealth of training base, HMAS Cerberus. Holden Australia's proving ground is located just east of Western Port.

Regulations

For the protection of the marine environment, a number of activities are prohibited within the boundaries of Victoria's Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries. No fishing, netting, spearing, taking or killing of marine life. All methods of fishing, from the shore or sea, are prohibited. No taking or damaging of animals, plants and objects or artefacts. There are strong penalties under the National Parks Act for fishing in Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries. All offenses can by reported to the Department of Primary Industries on 133 474 (within Australia)

However, you may carry fin-fish on board your boat within park boundaries if you caught the fish outside the parks and you may also carry but not use, a fishing rod or spear gun. You may also have abalone or rock lobster associated equipment on board the boat provided that you are travelling straight through the park by the shortest practicable route.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ A Voyage to Terra Australis by Matthew Flinders at Project Gutenberg Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks." Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books. The project tries to make these as
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be and removed. (January 2008)

External links

Coordinates A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified in three coordinates, using mainly a spherical coordinate system: 38°22′S 145°20′E / 38.367°S 145.333°E

Categories: Geography of Victoria (Australia) | Bays of Australia | Ramsar sites in Australia | Biosphere reserves of Australia

 

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