Champion Bay facts for kids
Champion Bay is a beautiful bay on the coast of Western Australia. It's located just north of the city of Geraldton. The bay sits between two points of land called Point Moore and Bluff Point. It's an important part of the local area, especially for the port and city of Geraldton.
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How Champion Bay Got Its Name
Have you ever wondered how places get their names? Champion Bay has an interesting story!
Early Explorers and the Champion
In April 1840, a brave explorer named Lieutenant John Lort Stokes was mapping the coast of Western Australia. He was part of the crew on a famous ship called HMS Beagle. When he found this bay, he decided to name it "Champion Bay."
He chose this name to honor a smaller ship, a schooner, called the Champion. Earlier that year, in January 1840, a person named George Fletcher Moore had traveled on the Champion. He was the first to discover this bay. So, the name "Champion Bay" remembers that first discovery.
From Bay to City: The Naming of Geraldton
For a while, the area right around the bay was also known as Champion Bay. But later, in 1850, plans were made to build a town there. This new town was named Geraldton.
Geraldton was named after Captain Charles Fitzgerald. He was a very important person at the time, serving as the fourth Governor of Western Australia. Governors are like leaders of a state or territory.
Traditional Owners of the Land
Before European explorers arrived, the land around Champion Bay was the home of Aboriginal people. They spoke a language called Nhanhagardi. These people had lived in this area for thousands of years, caring for the land and its resources.
Bluff Point Lighthouse
Lighthouses are tall towers with bright lights that help guide ships safely.
Building a Guiding Light
In 1877, an important lighthouse was built at Bluff Point, right on Champion Bay. This lighthouse had a special type of lens called a dioptric lens, which helps to focus the light very brightly.
The lighthouse was made up of two main parts. The top section, which was square, stood about 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) tall. Below that was a wider, eight-sided base that was about 11.3 meters (37 feet) high. This lighthouse helped ships navigate the waters of Champion Bay for many years.
