Lancelin is a small fishing and tourist town 127 km north of
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...
, Western Australia. It is within the
Shire of Gingin
The Shire of Gingin is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, just beyond the northern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the town of Gingin.
Hist ...
at the end of Lancelin Road, and a few kilometres away from the scenic highway
Indian Ocean Drive
Indian Ocean Drive is a coastal highway in the Australian state of Western Australia which services the coastal communities along the Indian Ocean immediately north of the state capital Perth, linking the northern suburb of Yanchep with the Br ...
(State Route 60).
Lancelin is close to the shipwreck site of the '' Vergulde Draeck'' or ''Gilt Dragon'' that was wrecked on rocks close to shore in 1656. The town has a permanent population of over 600, and swells to 2,500 during the peak holiday period around Christmas and New Year.
History
The town's name originates from nearby Lancelin Island which was named after P.J. Lancelin the scientific writer by Captain
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 ...
in 1801 during the Frenchman's expedition.
The area was initially a holiday camping place through the 1940s and holiday shacks were probably built in the area during this time, but interest in the area grew as it was designated as a possible port to be utilised by the crayfish or lobster fishery.
Lancelin was gazetted in 1950 and was originally named "Wangaree", the Aboriginal word for fish. The area was renamed in 1953 after a request from the Gingin Road Board.
Two sounding rockets were launched from Lancelin for solar research during the
solar eclipse of June 20, 1974
A total solar eclipse occurred on June 20, 1974. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's a ...
.
The Australian military has used the Lancelin Defence Training Area to the north of the town for training exercises since the 1940s.
Recreational
Two islands are located just off the coast in the bay; Edwards Island and Lancelin Island.
Lancelin Island Nature Reserve (500 metres offshore) is managed for the conservation of flora and fauna. The island is an important sanctuary for a variety of breeding
seabird
Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same enviro ...
s, for several resident landbirds and lizards and for resting
sea lion
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, short and thick hair, and a big chest and belly. Together with the fur seals, they make up the family Otariidae, eared seals. ...
s. A variety of marine, wading and land birds may be observed. You can go to this island by boat and it is a popular summer trip. There is a walkway along the island that visitors can walk on to see the wildlife.
Edwards island is prohibited to travel to since it is high class nature reserve.
Kitesurfing
Kiteboarding or kitesurfing is a sport that involves using wind power with a large power kite to pull a rider across a water, land, or snow surface. It combines aspects of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and wak ...
and
windsurfing
Windsurfing is a wind propelled water sport that is a combination of sailing and surfing. It is also referred to as "sailboarding" and "boardsailing", and emerged in the late 1960s from the aerospace and surf culture of California. Windsurfing ga ...
are popular in the ocean off Lancelin.
Sandboarding
Sandboarding is a boardsport and extreme sport similar to snowboarding that involves riding across or down a sand dune while standing on a board, either with both feet strapped in or while standing loose, without bindings. Sandboarding can als ...
motorbike
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruisin ...
or
four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer cas ...
are popular on the beaches and on the dunes behind the town.
Every March the annual colour blast event is held on the beach.
The Lancelin District Community Association is the holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest off-road convoy.
Climate
Lancelin has a hot-summer
mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
that is consistently warm throughout the year, resembling a typical subtropical climate but with a dry summer.
Gallery
file:Lancelin War Memorial August 2018.jpg, Lancelin War Memorial
file:Lancelin Island August 2018.jpg, Lancelin Island viewed from the lookout
file:Lancelin Jetty from Lancelin Lookout.jpg, View from Lancelin Lookout southward towards the town centre and the jetty
file:Lancelin Sand Dunes from lookout.jpg, Sand dunes to the northeast of Lancelin viewed from the lookout
file:Lancelin Sand Dunes 2.jpg, Lancelin sand dunes