Pelorus Islet (also known as Pelorus Reef and Pelorus Rock) is an

islet An islet is a very small, often unnamed island. Most definitions are not precise, but some suggest that an islet has little or no vegetation and cannot support human habitation. It may be made of rock, sand and/or hard coral; may be permanent ...

in the Australian state of

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

located in

Great Australian Bight The Great Australian Bight is a large oceanic bight, or open bay, off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia. Extent Two definitions of the extent are in use – one used by the International Hydrog ...

off the south coast of

Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Island, also known as Karta Pintingga (literally 'Island of the Dead' in the language of the Kaurna people), is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia, southwest ...

approximately east south-east of

Cape Gantheaume Cape Gantheaume is a headland located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It was named after Vice admiral Honoré Joseph Antoine Ganteaume (1755–1818) by the Baudin expedition to Australia during 1803. It is currently lo ...

. It was named by Captain Francis Harding, RN after HMS ''Pelorus''.

Description

Pelorus Islet is about east south-east of Cape Gantheaume. It consists of three separate islets - a main round topped peak of height with a reef with several rocks sitting above water level to its east and another exposed rock to its south-west. It is inaccessible by boat as it is subject to continuous swells.

Formation, geology and oceanography

Peloris Islet was formed between 7500 and 8900 years ago after sea levels rose at the start of the

Holocene The Holocene ( ) is the current geological epoch. It began approximately 11,650 cal years Before Present (), after the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene togethe ...

when Kangaroo Island became separated from Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas. Pelorus Islet is the remains of a volcanic intrusion reported as being some 506 million years old. The islet rises abruptly from a depth of .

Flora and fauna

As of 1996, no terrestrial vegetation was present as the islet has been ‘scoured of any soil and small eroded fragments, leaving only a few large boulders’ while the only vertebrate animals observed were

New Zealand fur seal ''Arctocephalus forsteri'' (common names include the Australasian fur seal, South Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal, Antipodean fur seal, or long-nosed fur seal) is a species of fur seal found mainly around southern Australia and New Z ...

s and crested terns.

History

Nicolas Baudin Nicolas Thomas Baudin (; 17 February 1754 – 16 September 1803) was a French explorer, cartographer, naturalist and hydrographer, most notable for his explorations in Australia and the southern Pacific. Biography Early career Born a comm ...

is reported as being the first European to describe the islet, however he did not name the islet. The islet was surveyed in May 1838 by HMS ''Pelorus'' under the command of Captain Francis Harding RN. It is reported that Harding named the islet after the ship. The Pelorus Islet is reported as being the site of the wrecking of ''You Yangs'' on 14 June 1890. ''You Yangs'' was a 672 gross tonnage barque rigged screw steamer owned by Howard Smith and Sons.

Protected areas status

Pelorus Islet originally obtained

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

status as a fauna reserve under the former ''Fauna Conservation Act 1964'' As of 1996, it was described as being vacant crown land. It obtained status as a fauna conservation reserve declared under the ''Crown Lands Act 1929-1966'' on 16 March 1967. As of 2016, the islet is part of the

Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, formerly the Cape Gantheaume National Park, is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island. Attractions include Murray Lagoon and D'Estrees Bay. It ...

. As of 2012, the waters surrounding its shores are part of a habitat protection zone located within the boundaries of the

Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park __NOTOC__ Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park (formerly Southern Kangaroo Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve) is a marine protected area located south of South Australia in waters within the Australian Exclusive economic zone to the south of ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pelorus Islet Islands of South Australia