Eddystone (Tasmania)

Eddystone is a tower-shaped rock or small island, 30 m high and 27 km from South East Cape on a bearing of 149°, in Tasmania, Australia. It is known for its inaccessibility and distinctive shape. It is part of the Southwest National Park, and thus included in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site.

Eddystone should not be confused with the similarly named Eddystone Rock off the north-east coast of Tasmania. They can be identified and distinguished using the place name search at Geoscience Australiacite web|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=et al | date= | url=http://www.ga.gov.au/map/names/ |title=Place Name Search, Geoscience Australia|format= |work= |pages= |publisher=Geoscience Australia| doi= |accessdate=2006-07-21 ]

History

Eddystone is an erosional remnant of the Tasmanian mainland. It is estimated to have separated from the mainland at least 15,000 years ago.cite web|last=|first= |authorlink= |coauthors= | date= | url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/reptile/Nivpal.html |title=Pedra Branca Skink |format= |work= |pages= 563-569|publisher= [http://www.parks.tas.gov.au Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania] | doi=|accessdate=2006-07-16 ]

The island was described by Abel Tasman in 1642 as "a tall, obtuse, square tower". [cite web|last=Heeres |first=J E (Editor)|authorlink= |coauthors= | date=2006 | url=http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0600571h.html |title=Abel Janszoon Tasman's Journal of his Discovery of Van Diemen's Land and New Zealand in 1642 with Documents Relating to his Exploration of Australia in 1644...to which are added his Life and Labours, 1898 |format= |work=|pages= |publisher= [http://gutenberg.net.au Project Gutenberg of Australia] | language= |accessdate=2006-07-09 ] A painting [cite web|last=Boyes |first=G. T. W. B.)|authorlink= |coauthors= | date=1823 | url=http://images.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/Search/Search.asp?Letter=P&Title=Pedra+Branca+and+Eddistone%3B+Tasmans+Head |title=Pedra Branca and Eddistone; Tasmans Head |format= |work=|pages= |publisher=State Library of Tasmania | language= |accessdate=2006-07-21 ] from 1823 bears this out, and also shows its proximity to Pedra Branca, 2.2 km to the west.

Eddystone was named by Captain James Cook in 1777 because of its resemblance to Eddystone Lighthouse in Devon, England.(cite book
last = Brothers
first = Nigel
authorlink =
coauthors = David Pemberton, Helen Pryor, Vanessa Halley
title = Tasmania's Offshore Islands : seabirds and other natural features
publisher = Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
date = 2001
location = Hobart, Tasmania
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0-7246-4816-X pp. 510-511] ,

Flora and fauna

The island has negligible plant life. Seabirds recorded as nesting there include the Australasian Gannet, Black-faced Cormorant and Fairy Prion are known to nest there.cite web|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= | date=2002 | url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/IslandCare/southern_islands.pdf |title=Small Southern Islands Conservation Management Statement 2002 |format=PDF |work= |pages= |publisher=Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service | doi= |accessdate=2006-07-20 ] . Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals haul-out on the lower ledges when seas are not too rough.

ee also

*Sidmouth Rock is only 2 km away.
*South East Cape
*Maatsuyker Islands

References