Chinaman's Hat is an

octagon In geometry, an octagon (from the Greek ὀκτάγωνον ''oktágōnon'', "eight angles") is an eight-sided polygon or 8-gon. A '' regular octagon'' has Schläfli symbol and can also be constructed as a quasiregular truncated square, t, whi ...

al structure in the South Channel of Port Phillip, in the Australian state of Victoria, which serves as a shipping channel marker and

haul-out Hauling-out is a ethology, behaviour associated with pinnipeds (true seals, sea lions, fur seals and walruses) temporarily leaving the water. Hauling-out typically occurs between periods of foraging activity. Rather than remain in the water, pin ...

for local brown fur seals. It is in the Mornington Peninsula Shire, east-south-east of Pope's Eye. Along with the latter, it served as a navigation beacon at the Heads of the bay.

History

The term ''Chinaman's Hat'', the name once associated with a former military structure, Station M, was transferred to a new seal platform erected by

Parks Victoria Parks Victoria is a government agency of the state of Victoria, Australia. Parks Victoria was established in December 1996 as a statutory authority, reporting to the Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change. The ''Parks Victoria Ac ...

in 2002. Postwar, a structure was built to replace a dilapidated military installation which had been erected on a dolphin, shortly before 1942, as part of the Port Phillip defence system. That structure is often said to have supported an optical mount, or magic eye'', which transmitted two piezo electronic beams across the Rip to a large mirror, and then to two reflectors, respectively Station P and Station S, at The Heads at Point Lonsdale. Any break in transmission in the system was designed to set off an alarm signalling the possible presence of enemy vessels. The device apparently did not function as expected, and the equipment was removed two years later, in 1944. However, some doubts have been expressed regarding the existence of that interception system, although the site certainly was equipped in wartime with underwater indicator loops to detect submarines. After it was abandoned, the dilapidated remains were used as a perch for both recreational fishing and as an

anchorage Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Ma ...

. It rested on a circular concrete caisson base, roughly in diameter, raised on a sandy

shoal In oceanography, geomorphology, and geoscience, a shoal is a natural submerged ridge, bank, or bar that consists of, or is covered by, sand or other unconsolidated material and rises from the bed of a body of water to near the surface. It ...

some below the waterline. In early 2002, Parks Victoria was granted a permit to demolish the old structure, after arguing that it posed a risk for small craft navigation and was devoid of heritage value. In the face of public protests, the authority built an expensive alternative platform, at a cost of A$210,000, which was quickly disparaged by critics at the time as a veritable " Taj Mahal for seals". The new structure for the seal colony was grounded on a rectangular base and lies not far from the Mud Islands bird sanctuary. At first, the seals refused to budge from their traditional, run-down landmark, and it was only after the authorities demolished the old haul-out that they settled on the new platform. The new structure now carries the name Chinaman's Hat. The present structure is one of four haul-outs or resting sites in the bay, and is occupied by a bachelor community of the

Australian fur seal The brown fur seal (''Arctocephalus pusillus''), also known as the Cape fur seal, South African fur seal and Australian fur seal, is a species of fur seal. Description The brown fur seal is the largest and most robust member of the fur seals. ...

s. It is a popular destination for

scuba diver Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving whereby divers use breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface air supply. The name "scuba", an acronym for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus", was coined by Chris ...

s and

snorkeler Snorkeling ( British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped breathing tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a ...

s. Visitors to the site are warned to keep their distance, because the seals can react aggressively to people who approach too close.

References

{{coord, -38.2864, 144.7240, type:landmark_region:AU-VIC, display=title Buildings and structures in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula Geography of Melbourne Octagonal buildings Port Phillip

History

See also

References