Vivonne Bay, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Vivonne Bay is located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island
, South Australia
, 61 km. from Kingscote
, the Island's main town, and was named by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin
who visited the bay in January 1803.
Vivonne Bay is characterised by its long, sandy beach and the jetty which is used extensively by cray fishermen for off-loading of their catch. The middle portion of the jetty was removed during the Second World War
as a deterrent to enemy ships wishing to embark on the Island.
Immediately above the jetty is the town of Vivonne, a government proclaimed township of originally sixteen allotments. However, all but four allotments were ultimately resumed by the Crown as reserve.
An estate of 220 allotments was established in 1963 adjoining the Harriet River. In 1979, after investigation of the effects of erosion on the dunal system at Vivonne Bay, every esplanade allotment was compulsorily acquired by the Crown. These allotments now constitute a reserve.
In a survey of 10,000 beaches by Professor Andrew Short, director of Sydney University's marine studies centre, the beach at Vivonne Bay was adjudged as the best in Australia. Vivonne Bay is however recognised as having a significant undertow and at times a sizeable swell, and is therefore more suited to experienced swimmers. In April 2011, two Australian tourists drowned when large wave swept them out to sea as they posed for a photograph with their backs to the water at Point Ellen, near Vivonne Bay.
There is a general store located on the South Coast Road, whilst Kangaroo Island SeaLink
runs an outdoor education facility a short distance from the bay and Harriet River. A camping ground is located near the Harriet River.
Serious fires on Kangaroo Island in December 2007 threatened the Harriet River township and came extremely close to the Outdoor Education Facility, with residents forced to evacuate the area as the Country Fire Service
determined the area was difficult to defend. While only one house was destroyed, residents in the area were labelled "foolish and reckless" for not adequately clearing vegetation around their homes.
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, 61 km. from Kingscote
Kingscote, South Australia
- Facilities :Kingscote has a school offering years 1 to 12, a hospital, supermarket, post office and Government offices. It is the administrative centre for the Kangaroo Island Council, whose offices have recently undergone a significant upgrade....
, the Island's main town, and was named by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin
Nicolas Baudin
Nicolas-Thomas Baudin was a French explorer, cartographer, naturalist and hydrographer.Baudin was born a commoner in Saint-Martin-de-Ré on the Île de Ré. At the age of fifteen he joined the merchant navy, and at twenty joined the French East India Company...
who visited the bay in January 1803.
Vivonne Bay is characterised by its long, sandy beach and the jetty which is used extensively by cray fishermen for off-loading of their catch. The middle portion of the jetty was removed during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a deterrent to enemy ships wishing to embark on the Island.
Immediately above the jetty is the town of Vivonne, a government proclaimed township of originally sixteen allotments. However, all but four allotments were ultimately resumed by the Crown as reserve.
An estate of 220 allotments was established in 1963 adjoining the Harriet River. In 1979, after investigation of the effects of erosion on the dunal system at Vivonne Bay, every esplanade allotment was compulsorily acquired by the Crown. These allotments now constitute a reserve.
In a survey of 10,000 beaches by Professor Andrew Short, director of Sydney University's marine studies centre, the beach at Vivonne Bay was adjudged as the best in Australia. Vivonne Bay is however recognised as having a significant undertow and at times a sizeable swell, and is therefore more suited to experienced swimmers. In April 2011, two Australian tourists drowned when large wave swept them out to sea as they posed for a photograph with their backs to the water at Point Ellen, near Vivonne Bay.
There is a general store located on the South Coast Road, whilst Kangaroo Island SeaLink
Kangaroo Island SeaLink
Kangaroo Island SeaLink is a privately owned South Australian ferry company and tour operator which has plied the crossing from mainland South Australia to Kangaroo Island since 1989. From 1989 to 1994, Kangaroo Island Sealink was owned by the Malaysian company MBF. In 1994 the company was sold to...
runs an outdoor education facility a short distance from the bay and Harriet River. A camping ground is located near the Harriet River.
Serious fires on Kangaroo Island in December 2007 threatened the Harriet River township and came extremely close to the Outdoor Education Facility, with residents forced to evacuate the area as the Country Fire Service
Country Fire Service
The SA Country Fire Service is a volunteer based fire service in the state of South Australia in Australia. Many parts of Australia are sparsely populated whilst at the same time they are under significant risk of bushfire. Due to economics, it is prohibitively expensive for each Australian town...
determined the area was difficult to defend. While only one house was destroyed, residents in the area were labelled "foolish and reckless" for not adequately clearing vegetation around their homes.