Jurien Bay, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jurien BayWestern Australia |
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Jurien Bay Jetty, 2012
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 Jurien Bay
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1950s | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6516 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) | ||||||||
| Area | [convert: needs a number] | ||||||||
| Location | 220 km (137 mi) from Perth | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Dandaragan | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Moore | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Durack | ||||||||
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Jurien Bay is a lovely coastal town in Western Australia. It's about 220 kilometers (137 miles) north of Perth, right on the edge of the Indian Ocean. It's known for its beautiful beaches and marine life.
Contents
Discovering Jurien Bay
The coastline around Jurien Bay was first explored by Europeans in the 1600s. Later, between 1801 and 1803, a French expedition led by Nicolas Baudin sailed along the coast. A mapmaker on that trip, Louis de Freycinet, gave Jurien Bay its name. He named it after Charles Marie Jurien, a French naval officer.
English explorers also visited the area starting in 1822. The bay was first properly mapped by Captain James Harding in 1865. Another detailed map was made in 1875.
Early Days and Growth
The first small settlement in Jurien Bay began in the mid-1850s. It was started by a person named Walter Padbury. A jetty, which is like a long pier, was built between 1885 and 1887. This helped with farming and raising animals in the area.
In the early 1900s, a temporary fishing village grew near the jetty. People caught fish like dhufish, snapper, and groper in the ocean. Permanent homes were not built until the 1950s. These first homes were simple shacks made of corrugated iron. The town struggled to grow at first because it was hard to get fresh water and the area felt very isolated.
The Crayfish Industry
The town was officially named Jurien Bay on December 21, 1956. It was briefly called Jurien in 1959 but went back to its original name in 1999.
A very important part of Jurien Bay's story is the Crayfish industry. Crayfish, also known as Western Rock Lobsters, are found in large numbers here. The town grew quickly because of this industry. New jetties, factories, and even an airstrip were built. This allowed crayfish to be flown south to Perth and then shipped to places like Japan and the United States. Today, crayfishing is a huge business worth millions of dollars.
Festivals and Modern Life
In the mid-1990s, Jurien Bay started a festival called the "Blessing of the Fleet." This event celebrated the start of the crayfishing season each November. In 2010, a new coastal road called Indian Ocean Drive opened. This road made it much faster to travel to Perth. After the road opened, the festival was renamed the Indian Ocean Festival.
Today, Jurien Bay is a popular holiday spot. Many new houses are being built as more people move there or visit. The main jobs in town are in building, shops, tourism, and, of course, crayfishing. Locals say that the town's population more than doubles during holiday times.
The new Indian Ocean Drive also makes it easier to reach nearby towns like Leeman, Cervantes, and Green Head. Jurien Bay has many useful places. These include a supermarket, police station, skatepark, and sports facilities. There's also a recreational jetty, a small boat harbor, and a medical center. The town has a district high school and a bus service to Perth twice a week.
In 2016, the Turquoise Way trail was made longer. This path is great for cycling, walking, or running. It now stretches for 14.2 kilometers (about 8.8 miles). Jurien Bay is also the main town for the Shire of Dandaragan local government area.
Geography and Nature
Jurien Bay is located on the Indian Ocean Drive. This road connects it to Perth, which is 220 kilometers (137 miles) south. It's also 195 kilometers (121 miles) south of Geraldton.
The town is surrounded by many beautiful national parks and nature reserves. Just east of Jurien Bay is the Lesueur National Park. This park is a "biodiversity hotspot," meaning it has a huge variety of plants and animals. Right next to the town is the Jurien Bay Marine Park. This marine park protects the amazing ocean life in the area. Jurien Bay also has its own airport.
Climate in Jurien Bay
Jurien Bay has a warm Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
| Climate data for Jurien Bay (1991–2020 averages, 1968–2023 extremes) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 45.2 (113.4) |
44.7 (112.5) |
44.0 (111.2) |
37.3 (99.1) |
32.1 (89.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
26.2 (79.2) |
30.0 (86.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
38.2 (100.8) |
40.5 (104.9) |
46.0 (114.8) |
46.0 (114.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.1 (86.2) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29.7 (85.5) |
26.7 (80.1) |
23.7 (74.7) |
21.1 (70.0) |
19.8 (67.6) |
20.2 (68.4) |
21.4 (70.5) |
23.8 (74.8) |
26.3 (79.3) |
28.8 (83.8) |
25.2 (77.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.3 (63.1) |
18.1 (64.6) |
16.9 (62.4) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.8 (53.2) |
10.4 (50.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
9.5 (49.1) |
9.9 (49.8) |
11.7 (53.1) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.9 (60.6) |
13.3 (55.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
8.8 (47.8) |
5.6 (42.1) |
1.7 (35.1) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
0.5 (32.9) |
1.3 (34.3) |
1.3 (34.3) |
2.7 (36.9) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.6 (43.9) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 6.8 (0.27) |
8.8 (0.35) |
17.1 (0.67) |
26.0 (1.02) |
67.9 (2.67) |
93.4 (3.68) |
112.3 (4.42) |
79.2 (3.12) |
43.5 (1.71) |
23.4 (0.92) |
18.6 (0.73) |
7.3 (0.29) |
503.4 (19.82) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2mm) | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 13.3 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 11.5 | 7.4 | 5.0 | 2.9 | 95.5 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 63 | 60 | 61 | 61 | 62 | 65 | 68 | 64 | 66 | 64 | 62 | 61 | 63 |
| Source 1: Bureau of Meteorology, Jurien Bay (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Bureau of Meteorology, Jurien Bay (all years) | |||||||||||||
People of Jurien Bay
In 2011, Jurien Bay had a population of 1,507 people. This was more than a third of all the people living in the Shire of Dandaragan. The population has been growing steadily.
The average age of people in Jurien Bay was 42. About 21% of the population was under 16 years old. Also, about 27% were over 60 years old. The main jobs in Jurien Bay were in building new homes, working in restaurants and hotels, and in retail shops. Many people also worked in manufacturing, education, and farming.
Most homes in Jurien Bay are separate houses. There are also some townhouses and units. A caravan park in Jurien Bay provides homes for some residents. Most people living in Jurien Bay were born in Australia. The next largest group came from the United Kingdom.
Emergency Services Cadets
The Jurien Bay District High School is home to the Emergency Services Cadet Corps. This program is managed by the Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Cadets. It helps young people learn important skills for emergency situations.
