Curlew Island (South Australia) facts for kids
 Curlew Island
Location in South Australia
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| Location | Spencer Gulf |
| Coordinates | 32°32′25″S 137°46′18″E / 32.5404°S 137.7716°E |
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Australia
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Curlew Island is a small island in South Australia. It's mostly covered in mangroves. You can find it near the top of Spencer Gulf. The island is located between Port Augusta and Point Lowly. It's also right next to the Playford B Power Station. In the past, many ships got stuck in the shallow waters around the island. Sadly, some boating accidents have also happened here. People enjoy fishing near the island. Sometimes, you can even spot whales in winter!
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Island History
In 1863, sailors were told that Curlew Island was mostly a big patch of mangroves. It had a small sandy hill at its northern end. This hill would only be covered by water during very high tides.
In 1882, the government decided to build storage places for explosives on Curlew Island. These were for powder and dynamite.
The first load of seashells was taken from Curlew Island in 1889. They were sent to Port Pirie. There, the shells were used at the smelters.
Many groups enjoyed picnics on Curlew Island. In 1932, the Port Augusta Yacht Club had a picnic there. People from nearby towns like Wilmington and Quorn also picnicked on the island. Sometimes, these picnics were held to say goodbye to someone leaving the area.
In 1950, there was talk about "dredging away" Curlew Island. This meant digging up parts of the island. The idea was to make a deep water area. This would help large ships turn easily. It would also allow them to unload equipment for a new power station.
Ship Accidents and Boating Incidents
Ships Getting Stuck
The shallow waters around Curlew Island have caused problems for ships. Several large vessels ran aground here. This means they got stuck on sandbanks.
For example, in 1878, the steamer Governor Musgrave got stuck. This led to calls for a dredge to clear the channel. The barque Sedwell Jane also ran aground in 1885. In 1894, the steamer Melbourne, carrying coal, got stuck near the island.
The Iron Monarch Incident
One famous incident involved the ship Iron Monarch. On February 18, 1930, this large steamer got stuck. It was carrying 6,500 tonnes of coal for the railways. The ship was on a sandbank near Curlew Island.
Tugs and barges had to come from Port Pirie to help. They unloaded some of the coal to make the ship lighter. After unloading 1,600 tonnes, the ship was freed. But it soon got stuck again 18 kilometers (11 miles) away! Finally, with more help, it reached Port Augusta. After unloading, the Iron Monarch went on to carry iron ore for making steel.
Boating Accidents
Sadly, several boating accidents have happened near Curlew Island.
- In 1881, Percy Horn's yacht sank in a storm. Everyone on board managed to swim to safety.
- In 1883, six men almost drowned when their boat sank. Luckily, the crew of another yacht, the Henrietta, rescued them.
- A fishing trip in 1886 ended in tragedy. The boat filled with water and sank. Two men, George William Dodson and Arrant Tobias Knutson, lost their lives. The third person survived.
- In 1887, the boat Australia capsized. One fisherman survived, but another, Mark Last, did not. He had caused the boat to flip over by climbing its mast.
- A very sad accident happened in 1896. Seven people went fishing near Curlew Island. Their boat capsized in rough weather. Three lives were lost, including two young brothers, Charles (12) and Edward Addison (10).
- In 1946, the body of Patrick Joseph Cowley was found near the island. It was thought he fell off the wharf at Port Augusta at night.
Island Wildlife
The mangroves on Curlew Island are home to many cormorants. These birds were once seen as rivals by fishermen. People even tried to reduce their numbers to get more fish.
You can often see humpback whales near Curlew Island in winter. Southern right whales are also sighted, but less often. Whale sightings in this area go back to 1894. The first humpback whale was reported in 1913. In 1989, a Bryde's whale was found south of the island. A part of this whale was later displayed at the South Australian Museum.
Fishing Fun
Fishing has been popular around Curlew Island since the late 1800s. People often try to catch snapper and yellowtail kingfish. You can reach these fishing spots by boat. Boats can be launched from Port Augusta or Point Lowly. In 1904, fishermen reported unusual trouble with sharks near the island.
