Cape Bridgewater, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Cape Bridgewater is a locality in Victoria, Australia
. It is located on the western shore of Bridgewater Bay, 21 kilometres south-west of Portland
, and 383 kilometres from Melbourne
. It lies within the Discovery Bay Coastal Park
.
The area was settled in the 1860s and a Post Office opened in 1863 (closed 1968) though known as Bridgewater Lower for some years.
Both Cape Bridgewater and Bridgewater Bay were named by named after the Duke of Bridgewater (1756-1829)
, by Lieutenant James Grant
sailing on the Lady Nelson
on 4 December 1800
.
Cape Bridgewater is home to a colony of up to 650 fur seals
and the highest coastal cliff in Victoria. The cape itself also boasts a large blowhole and a feature known as the petrified forest, but now known to be hollow tubes of limestone, eroded as a result of millions of years of rainfall. Bridgewater Bay and the adjacent Cape form a partially submerged volcanic caldera
. To the west is a large area with huge sand dunes. For these reasons the Cape and the nearby coastal area is classed by the government as the second most important coastline in Victoria, after the 'Twelve Apostles', along the Great Ocean Road
has begun on the cape after some controversy. This is part of the Portland Wind Project
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located on the western shore of Bridgewater Bay, 21 kilometres south-west of Portland
Portland, Victoria
The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
, and 383 kilometres from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. It lies within the Discovery Bay Coastal Park
Discovery Bay Coastal Park
Discovery Bay Coastal Park is a 104.6 km2 linear protected area of coastal land in western Victoria, south-eastern Australia. It extends along the coast of Discovery Bay from Cape Nelson north-westwards for 50 km to the border with South Australia. It lies within the traditional lands...
.
The area was settled in the 1860s and a Post Office opened in 1863 (closed 1968) though known as Bridgewater Lower for some years.
Both Cape Bridgewater and Bridgewater Bay were named by named after the Duke of Bridgewater (1756-1829)
Francis Egerton, 8th Earl of Bridgewater
Francis Henry Egerton, 8th Earl of Bridgewater , known as Francis Egerton until 1823, was a noted British eccentric, and supporter of natural theology....
, by Lieutenant James Grant
James Grant (navigator)
James Grant was a British Royal Navy officer and navigator in the early nineteenth century. He made several voyages to Australia and Tasmania, and was the first to map parts of the south coast of Australia.-Early life:...
sailing on the Lady Nelson
Lady Nelson
The Royal Navy purchased Lady Nelson in 1799. She spent her career exploring the coast of Australia in the early years of the 19th century. She was the first known vessel to sail eastward through Bass Strait, the first to sail along the South coast of Victoria, as well as the first to enter Port...
on 4 December 1800
.
Cape Bridgewater is home to a colony of up to 650 fur seals
Cape Fur Seal
The brown fur seal , also known as the Cape fur seal, South African fur seal and the Australian fur seal is a species of fur seal.-Description:...
and the highest coastal cliff in Victoria. The cape itself also boasts a large blowhole and a feature known as the petrified forest, but now known to be hollow tubes of limestone, eroded as a result of millions of years of rainfall. Bridgewater Bay and the adjacent Cape form a partially submerged volcanic caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
. To the west is a large area with huge sand dunes. For these reasons the Cape and the nearby coastal area is classed by the government as the second most important coastline in Victoria, after the 'Twelve Apostles', along the Great Ocean Road
Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is a stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, and is the world's largest war memorial; dedicated to casualties of World War I...
Wind Energy
Construction of wind turbines by the company Pacific HydroPacific Hydro
Pacific Hydro is an Australian company that specialises in electricity generation using renewable energy. Its focus is on hydroelectricity and windpower. It was a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange until July 2005. It was subject to a successful takeover offer by a subsidiary of...
has begun on the cape after some controversy. This is part of the Portland Wind Project
Portland Wind Project
The Portland wind farm is one of Australia's largest wind farms. Located on the coast of south-western Victoria near the city of Portland, it consists of four separate sites, of which three have been completed...