Adventure Bay, Tasmania
Adventure Bay Federal division(s) | Franklin |
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Adventure Bay is the name of a locality, a township and a geographical feature on the eastern side of Bruny Island, Tasmania. At the 2021 census, Adventure Bay had a population of 218.[1]
Early history
The first European to sight the bay was explorer
Furneaux's log made clear the bay was an excellent anchorage for resupplying vessels:
To the SW of the first watering place there is a large lagoon which I believe has plenty of fish in it for one of our Gentlemen caught upwards of 2 dozen trout, and shot a possum which was the only animal we saw. There are a great many gum trees and of a vast thickness and height, one of which measured in circumference 26 feet and the height under the branches was 20 feet."[3]
Others among Furneaux's crew spotted evidence of what they believed were small deer but were more likely kangaroos.[3] Furneaux also noted signs of an Aboriginal settlement in the form of "several huts or wigwams on shore, with several bags of grass in which they carry their shellfish."[3] - but the branches of which the huts were made were "split and torn" and there was "not the least appearance of any people."[3]
Reliably mapped and offering an abundance of fresh water and game, Adventure Bay quickly became a popular anchorage for European explorers. Cook's Resolution watered there in 1777, followed by
European Settlement
British whalers were reported in Adventure Bay by 1804.[4] Shore-based whaling stations operated in the bay from 1826 at four separate locations.[5] During the 19th and 20th century Adventure Bay was used by the timber industry. Sheltered from all but strong north-easterly winds, the township of Adventure Bay at the southern end of the bay itself was the site of both extensive timber mills and a long jetty from where seagoing vessels could load timber. Dangerously exposed to north-easterly gales, several ships were driven ashore and wrecked there, the largest being the 241-ton barque Natal Queen in 1909.
Adventure Bay Post Office opened on 1 December 1890 and closed in 1974.[6]
Adventure Bay is now largely a tourist destination. Facilities in town include a general store that sells petrol and a cafe. It is also the location for cruises around the island.
Notes
Footnotes
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Adventure Bay". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9780340825563.
- ^ OCLC 299995193.
- ISBN 0909434220.
- ISBN 0958656193.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
Further reading
- OCLC 583472222