Depuch Island facts for kids
Depuch Island, also known as Warmalana, is a volcanic island located off the northwest coast of Western Australia. It is part of the Pilbara region, not far from the town of Port Hedland. This island is special because of its ancient rock art and its interesting history.
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Discovering Depuch Island's Past
Aboriginal Heritage: Warmalana
Depuch Island holds great cultural importance for the Ngarluma Aboriginal people, who call it Warmalana. According to their ancient stories, known as the Dreaming, the island was created by a powerful spirit man named Matalga. He is said to have lifted a giant rock and thrown it into the sea, forming the island.
The island's rocks and boulders are covered with thousands of amazing Aboriginal engravings and rock art. These artworks tell stories and show the history of the Ngarluma people.
European Explorers Arrive
In July 1801, a French expedition led by explorer Nicolas Baudin charted the island. François-Michel Ronsard, who was the mapmaker for the expedition, named it Ile Depuch. This name honored Louis Depuch, a scientist on Baudin's team who studied rocks and minerals.
Ronsard discovered that Depuch Island was formed by a volcano. This was a very important find because it was the first time volcanic activity had been seen on the Australian continent by the expedition.
Shipwrecks and Storms
Depuch Island has also seen its share of dramatic events at sea. In 1912, a large Norwegian sailing ship called the Crown of England was anchored near the island, loading copper ore. A powerful cyclone hit the area, causing the ship to become wrecked.
Many other ships faced similar fates in these waters. For example, the passenger liner SS Koombana also sank in the area. These events show how wild and unpredictable the ocean can be around the island.
Depuch Island Today
Protecting Ancient Art
In the early 1960s, large amounts of iron ore were discovered in the Pilbara region. There was a plan to use Depuch Island as a port to ship out these minerals. However, a survey by the Western Australian Museum in 1962 found thousands of Aboriginal engravings on the island.
Because of this incredible discovery, the plans for the port were changed. The port was moved to the Dampier Archipelago instead. This decision helped protect the precious ancient rock art on Depuch Island for future generations.
