Mewstone, Tasmania

Mewstone is an oval 13.1 ha island, composed of muscovite granite, with steep cliffs and a small flat summit. It is part of the Pedra Branca Group, lying 12 km south-east of Maatsuyker Island, and 22 km off the south coast of Tasmania in south-eastern Australia.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 ] Its highest point is 150 m asl.Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). "Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features". Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X] Although it is sometimes referred to as "Mewstone Island" or "The Mewstone", its official name is simply "Mewstone" [cite web|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=| date= | url=http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/gazm01?placename=mewstone&placetype=0&state=TAS |title=Place Name Search for mewstone, tasmania|format= |work= |pages= |publisher=Geoscience Australia| doi= |accessdate=2006-07-24 ] . It is part of the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site and is known for its inaccessibility, unusual shape and abundant bird life.

History

In 1642 it was described by Abel Tasman, who said it "resembles a lion". [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 ] In 1773 it was named by Tobias Furneaux. [cite web|last= |first=|authorlink= |coauthors= | date=2006 | url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/AS10174b.htm |title= Furneaux, Tobias (1735 - 1781) |format= |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition|pages= |publisher=Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University | language= |accessdate=2006-07-23 ]

Flora and fauna

There is very little flora due to the rocky nature of the island. What little plant-life there is grows in crevices in the rocks where soil has accumulated.cite book|last=White |first=Gary |title=Islands of South-West Tasmania|publisher=self-published|location=Sydney |origyear=1980| id=ISBN 0-9594866-0-7]

Recorded breeding seabirds include Fairy Prion (20,000 pairs), Silver Gull, Black-faced Cormorant and Shy Albatross (7,500 pairs). Mewstone is the largest of only three Shy Albatross breeding colonies in the world, the other two being Albatross Island and Pedra Branca. Australian Fur Seals haul-out on small ledges. The Tasmanian Tree Skink is present.

References

External links

* [http://www.view.com.au/discover/aadjc.htm Excellent view of Mewstone]