Success Bank facts for kids
Success Bank is a large area of sand under the water, also known as a sandbank. It's located north of Cockburn Sound, near Fremantle in Western Australia. This sandbank is part of the Fremantle Outer Harbour.
It lies to the west of a place called Owen Anchorage. The water above Success Bank is about 5 metres (16 ft) deep. It's just south of the main shipping route, which is known as Gage Roads.
The sandbank got its name from Captain James Stirling. He named it after his ship, the HMS Success. This ship explored the Swan River area in 1827. Later, in 1829, the ship Success had an accident. It hit Carnac Reef, another sandbank, and was badly damaged.
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What is Success Bank Like?
This sandbank stretches for about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the coast. It goes towards the west and north-west. At its widest, it's about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) across. The total area it covers is about 1,205 hectares (2,980 acres).
Two man-made shipping channels cut through the sandbank. These channels are about 15-metre-deep (49 ft). They were built for the Fremantle Port Authority. These channels help cargo ships and other large vessels travel between Gage Roads and Cockburn Sound. This important pathway is called Success Channel.
Plants and Animals of Success Bank
Success Bank is home to many plants, especially different types of seagrass. It is covered extensively with seagrasses like Posidonia and Amphibolis griffithii. These seagrasses create important underwater habitats for marine life.
Neighboring Sandbanks: Parmelia Bank
Close to Success Bank is another sandbank called Parmelia Bank. It's a bit smaller than Success Bank. Parmelia Bank runs almost parallel to Success Bank. It's about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) further south. This bank stretches from Woodman Point almost all the way to Carnac Island.
How Success Bank Was Formed
Both Success Bank and Parmelia Bank were formed a very long time ago. This happened during a period called the Holocene, which was more than 10,000 years ago.
They were created when sand and other tiny bits of rock, called sediment, were deposited. This sediment came from the Rottnest Shelf and the Garden Island Ridge. Success Bank formed on the lee (sheltered side) of Mewstone Rocks. Parmelia Bank formed in the lee of Carnac Island.
