Carpenter Rocks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carpenter Rocks South Australia
Sunset over 'The Carpenter', from Gerloff Bay
Carpenter Rocks Location in South Australia
Established	31 October 1996 (locality)
Postcode(s)	5291
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACDT (UTC+10:30)
Location	452 km (281 mi) SE of Adelaide 35 km (22 mi) SW of Mount Gambier 37 km (23 mi) W of Port Macdonnell, South Australia
LGA(s)	District Council of Grant
Region	Limestone Coast
County	Grey
State electorate(s)	Mount Gambier
Federal Division(s)	Barker
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 19.0 °C 66 °F 8.2 °C 47 °F 708.4 mm 27.9 in
Localities around Carpenter Rocks: Canunda German Flat German Creek German Creek Canunda Ocean Carpenter Rocks Kongorong Ocean Ocean Pelican Point Pelican Point Blackfellows Caves
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Carpenter Rocks is a small town and area in the south-east of South Australia. It is about 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of Mount Gambier. This coastal spot faces the Southern Ocean. It is famous for its rugged coastline, which is great for fishing and diving.

Carpenter Rocks is part of the District Council of Grant. It is also in the electoral district of Mount Gambier for state government. For federal government, it is in the Division of Barker.

History of Carpenter Rocks

Early People of the Area

The first people to live in the Carpenter Rocks area were Aboriginal communities. They belonged to the Booandik tribe. These groups lived in small camps along the coast. They found plenty of food and water there.

European Discovery

Lieutenant James Grant was the first known British person to see this land. He was on the ship HMS Lady Nelson in 1800. He saw what he thought were islands. Later, he realized they were mountains and capes. One of these capes, just west of the town, he named Cape Banks.

In 1802, French explorer Nicholas Baudin sailed by on his ship Geographe. He noticed the area and wrote about it. He described a long line of rocks along the beach. He said the waves crashed over them with great force. This created a constant loud noise.

How Carpenter Rocks Got Its Name

According to historians, Nicholas Baudin named "The Rocks" as "Les Carpentiers." This means "The Carpenters" in French. He thought the jagged and uneven shape of the rocks looked like a carpenter's saw.

The Admella Shipwreck

In 1859, a passenger ship called the Admella was wrecked. It hit a reef near Cape Banks, off the coast of Carpenter Rocks. The ship was traveling from Port Adelaide to Melbourne. Many lives were lost because rescue boats could not get close enough.

The Cape Banks Lighthouse is an important landmark. It is listed as a state heritage place. This means it is protected for its historical value.

Establishment of the Locality

On October 31, 1996, the boundaries for the Carpenter Rocks area were officially set. The area was given its "long established name."

Things to See and Do

Canunda National Park

Carpenter Rocks is a starting point for exploring the Canunda National Park. It is also close to Lake Bonney SE. These areas offer beautiful natural scenery.

Fishing and Boating

The town is important for the southern rock lobster industry. Many fishing boats are kept safely in Bucks Bay. This bay provides a calm place for them to dock.

Cape Banks Lighthouse

The Cape Banks Lighthouse is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the town. It stands near the spot where the Admella shipwreck happened in 1859.