Brush Island facts for kids
Brush Island viewed from the northern end of Murramarang Beach
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Tasman Sea |
| Highest elevation | 30 m (100 ft) |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| State | New South Wales |
| Brush Island Nature Reserve New South Wales |
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IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
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 Brush Island Nature Reserve
Location in New South Wales
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| Nearest town or city | Bawley Point |
| Established | July 1963 |
| Area | 0.47 km2 (0.2 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |
| Website | Brush Island Nature Reserve |
| See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
Brush Island is a special piece of land off the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. It's called a continental island because it used to be connected to the mainland.
This island is part of the Brush Island Nature Reserve. This means it's a protected area where nature is kept safe. The local Aboriginal people, the Murramarang people of the Yuin nation, know it as Mit Island.
Brush Island is located in the Tasman Sea. It's about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south-east of a small coastal town called Bawley Point. The island and its reserve cover an area of 47 hectares (about 116 acres).
In July 1963, Brush Island officially became a nature reserve. It's a very important place for seabirds to breed and raise their young. The island is also listed on Australia’s Register of the National Estate, which means it's recognized for its special heritage. It even has a lighthouse that works automatically without anyone living there.
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About Brush Island
Brush Island is located about 350 meters (1,150 feet) from Murramarang Point. It stretches for 880 meters (about half a mile) in length. At its widest, the island is 560 meters (about a third of a mile) across.
Island Features
The island rises about 30 meters (98 feet) above the sea. Its edges are mostly steep, rocky cliffs. On the northern side, you can see gullies, which are channels carved out by water.
These gullies are also used by little penguins. You can often see their tracks and burrows all over the island.
A Look Back in Time
The famous explorer Captain James Cook saw Brush Island on April 22, 1770. This was during his first big journey to the South Pacific Ocean.
Captain Cook had hoped to find shelter for his ship, the Endeavour, between the island and the mainland. However, the sea was too rough. So, the Endeavour continued sailing north. A week later, it made its first landing in Australia at Botany Bay.
Plants and Animals
Brush Island is home to many different plants. You can find herbs, low shrubs, and small, tough trees. Some of the plants include:
- Carpobrotus glaucescens
- Lomandra longifolia
- Einadia hastata
- Myoporum insulare
- Enchylaena tomentosa
- Acacia longifolia
- Westringia fruticosa
- Banksia integrifolia
- Casuarina glauca
Many types of seabirds nest on the island. These include:
In 2008, two new types of birds were found nesting there for the first time:
Saving the Island from Rats
In 1932, black rats arrived on the island. This happened after a ship called the Northern Firth got stuck there. These rats caused problems for the native wildlife.
In 2005, the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service started a program to get rid of the rats. They used a special poisoning campaign. Thanks to their efforts, the rats were successfully removed from the island.
