Penguin Island (South Australia) facts for kids
View of Penguin Island from Cape Martin, South Australia
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 Penguin Island
Location in South Australia
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Rivoli Bay |
| Coordinates | 37°29′54″S 140°00′50″E / 37.49839°S 140.01376°E |
| Area | 2.02 ha (5.0 acres) |
| Highest elevation | 16 m (52 ft) |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Penguin Island is a small island in South Australia, a state in Australia. It is found in Rivoli Bay, on the south-east coast. The island is about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles) south of the town of Beachport. For many years, from 1878 to 1960, a lighthouse operated on the island. Since at least 1972, Penguin Island has been a special protected area known as the Penguin Island Conservation Park.
Contents
What is Penguin Island Like?
Penguin Island is located about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles) south of Beachport. It's also about 120 metres (390 feet) south-east of a piece of land called Cape Martin. The island actually has two main parts. People sometimes unofficially call them Outer Penguin Island and Inner Penguin Island.
The Inner Penguin Island was formed in 1968. A big storm caused part of Cape Martin to collapse. This created a channel about 40 metres (130 feet) wide. This channel separated a piece of the cliff, which became Inner Penguin Island.
Both parts of the island have tall, straight cliffs. These cliffs rise about 10 metres (33 feet) to 15 metres (49 feet) above the sea. However, at the south-western end of the outer island, the land slopes down to a rocky area. Most of the island is surrounded by a flat, rocky area called a wave cut platform. The main part of the island, along with smaller rocks, is about 400 metres (1,300 feet) long and up to 150 metres (490 feet) wide. Parts of the island are covered in sand, which has started to form soil. In 1994, it was reported that you could walk to the inner island at low tide. But you could only reach the outer island by boat or by swimming.
How Penguin Island Was Formed
Penguin Island was formed about 6,000 years ago. This happened when sea levels rose at the beginning of the Holocene period. The island is made of a type of rock called Bridgewater Formation calcareous sandstone. This rock is a leftover piece of the Robe Range, which was formed during the Pleistocene Ice Age. The island sits in water that is not very deep. The water is about 10 m (33 ft) deep within 1,000 m (3,300 ft) to its west, 200 m (660 ft) to its south, and 300 m (980 ft) to its east.
Plants and Animals of Penguin Island
Island Plants (Flora)
In 1994, reports said that Penguin Island had low shrubland. This means it had many small bushes. The most common plant was grey saltbush. By 1996, the shrubland was mostly made up of coastal daisybush.
Other native plants found in 1996 included fleshy saltbush, austral seablite, bower spinach, and leafy peppercress. Some plants that were brought to the island by people, called introduced species, were also present. These included Athel pines, African boxthorn, and mallows. In 1977, a plant called marram grass was planted on the inner island. This was done to help stop sand from blowing away and to help native plants grow back.
Island Animals (Fauna)
As of 1996, Penguin Island was home to many breeding birds. These included little penguins, crested terns, short-tailed shearwaters, and silver gulls. The island is important because it's a breeding ground for these seabirds. It's also a special place for studying crested terns and silver gulls. Scientists have been putting bands on the legs of crested terns since 1953 and silver gulls since 1968. This helps them track the birds.
Some wild birds that are not native to the area have also been seen on Penguin Island. These include starlings and feral pigeons. Mammals observed on the island include Australian fur seals and rabbits. Rabbits have been specifically seen on the inner island.
History of Penguin Island
Aboriginal Use
Since Penguin Island could be reached by walking at low tide, it's possible that local Aboriginal people used the island. They might have visited it to find food, especially seabirds like little penguins and silver gulls.
European Discovery
Penguin Island was first described by a French explorer named Baudin in 1802. He likely wrote about it because it was a danger to ships. He said:
It ends in a fitting cape [Cape Martin], at the tip of which there lies a small island [Penguin Island], reaching about half a league out to sea. Its southern section is low and narrow, but the northern part is [higher] and can be seen from a fair way off. The island is completely surrounded by rocks and so is hardly approachable. The same applies to the whole coast, which is shielded by a reef and a line of more or less large rocks that prevent any landing there (Baudin, in Cornell, 1974).
Baudin probably didn't name the island himself. It's likely that the island got its name because of the many little penguins found there.
From 1878 to 1960, a lighthouse operated on Penguin Island. Its job was to guide ships safely. In 1960, a new lighthouse, the Cape Martin Lighthouse, took over its duties. As of 1994, the old lighthouse tower, a small shed, and a little jetty (a small pier) on the east side of the island were still there. The tower and shed were in "reasonable condition," but the jetty was "fallen into disrepair," meaning it was broken down.
Protected Area Status
Since 1961, Penguin Island has been a protected area. This means it's a special place where nature is conserved. Since at least 1972, it has been part of the Penguin Island Conservation Park. This park helps protect the island's unique plants and animals.
