Hamelin Bay, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hamelin BayWestern Australia |
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Hamelin Bay
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 Hamelin Bay
Location in Western Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 6288 |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Augusta-Margaret River |
| State electorate(s) | Warren-Blackwood |
| Federal Division(s) | Forrest |
Hamelin Bay is a beautiful bay and a small place on the southwest coast of Western Australia. It sits between two famous capes: Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste.
This bay was named after Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin, a French explorer who sailed here around 1801. It is located south of Cape Freycinet.
The beach north of Hamelin Bay leads to the Boranup Sand Patch and the mouth of the Margaret River. To the south, you can find Cape Leeuwin. Hamelin Bay was once a small settlement and port, part of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge.
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Hamelin Bay's Historic Jetty
A long time ago, a jetty was built at Hamelin Bay. This jetty helped a timber company owned by M. C. Davies move wood. They also used a jetty at Flinders Bay, which is south of Augusta.
One of Davies' timber railways went right onto the Hamelin Bay Jetty. The jetty was first built in 1882 and then made longer in 1898. Today, only a few old wooden poles from the original jetty can still be seen in the water.
Things to Do at Hamelin Bay
The Cape to Cape Track is a long walking trail that goes along the beach near Hamelin Bay. This makes Hamelin Bay one of the few places with buildings right on the track.
Camping at Hamelin Bay
Most of the land around Hamelin Bay is now part of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. However, some small areas nearby are privately owned.
In the 1950s, the local camping area used old Perth trams as shelters! None of those trams are left today. Now, the camping area has places for tents and caravans (with or without power). There are also a few small cabins and chalets with modern facilities. Some campsites were removed to make space for these new buildings. You can also find a shop and bathrooms in the camping area.
Because of the type of camping area and the local weather, there are often total fire bans. This means you cannot light any fires to keep everyone safe.
Shipwrecks of Hamelin Bay
Hamelin Bay was a very tricky place for ships to sail because of many reefs and rocks. It was known for shipwrecks, especially during bad weather. The bay was dangerous for ships to anchor or tie up.
Even today, some fishing boats still use the bay when the weather is good. The Western Australian Museum has records of many ships that sank in or near Hamelin Bay. An anchor from one of these wrecks was found and is now in the beach car park.
A very big storm on July 22, 1900, caused many ships to sink at Hamelin Bay.
Famous Shipwrecks
Here are some of the ships that sank near Hamelin Bay:
- Agincourt, 1863
- Arcadia, April 25, 1900 – a wooden sailing ship
- Aristide, October 25, 1889 – a wooden boat
- Chaudiere, July 4, 1883 – a sailing ship
- Else (formerly Albert William), September 2, 1900 – a type of sailing ship
- Glenbervie, June 20, 1900
- Hokitika, November 2, 1872 – a sailing ship
- Katinka, July 22, 1900 – an iron ship
- Lövspring, July 22, 1900 – a wooden sailing ship
- Nor'wester, July 22, 1900 – an iron sailing ship
- Tobar, 1945 – a small fishing boat
- SS Waterlily, January 31, 1903 – a steam-powered boat
Whale Strandings
Hamelin Bay and the areas around it have seen many whale strandings. This is when whales get stuck on the beach. Sadly, attempts to save these whales have often not worked.
When whales get stranded, it can also increase the risk of shark attacks because the dead whales attract sharks.
Major Whale Strandings
Here are some of the large whale strandings that have happened:
- 1996: About 320 long-finned pilot whales got stranded just north of the bay. This was the biggest known whale stranding in Western Australia.
- March 2018: Over 150 short-finned pilot whales were found stranded.
Foul Bay Lighthouse
A lighthouse was first built on nearby Hamelin Island in 1937. In 1967, it was moved to the mainland. It is now known as the Foul Bay Lighthouse.
Hamelin Bay's Railway History
The M. C. Davies company had a railway that connected the Hamelin Bay jetty to Karridale, Boranup, and Flinders Bay. Later, in 1925, parts of this railway were used to create the connecting Flinders Bay Branch Railway.
Other Places Named Hamelin
- Cape Hamelin – 34°16′S 115°02′E / 34.267°S 115.033°E
- Hamelin Island – 34°13′S 115°00′E / 34.217°S 115.000°E
