Barrow Island (Western Australia)
 Barrow Island from an 1897 map, showing the Australian mainland on the bottom right (south-east) and the Montebello Islands to the north | |
 Barrow Island (Western Australia) | |
  Barrow Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Indian Ocean, off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 20°48′S 115°23′E / 20.8°S 115.38°E[1] |
| Area | 202 km2 (78 sq mi) |
| Length | 27 km (16.8 mi) |
| Width | 11.5 km (7.15 mi) |
| Coastline | 72 km (44.7 mi) |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
| State | Western Australia |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 45 (SAL 2021)[2] |
Barrow Island is a 202-square-kilometre (78 sq mi) island 50 kilometres (31 mi) northwest off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. The island is the second largest in Western Australia after Dirk Hartog Island.[3]
Early history and European discovery
The island was visited by Indigenous Australians approximately 4,000 or more years ago. It separated from the mainland approximately 6,800 years ago.[4][5] Stone artefacts including several weathered flakes and fragments made of igneous and metamorphic rocks and chert were collected from Barrow Island in the 1960s.[5] Thevenard Island also has evidence of Aboriginal visitation,[5] and it is likely that the nearby Montebello Islands were utilized as well; however, there have been no archaeological finds from these islands.
Navigators had noted its existence since the early 17th century, and
Environment
Barrow Island is noted for its flat
Due to its isolation from mainland Australia and protection afforded under its statutory status, Barrow Island is one of the most important conservation reserves in Western Australia.[9] It is an "A-class" reserve, the highest level of conservation protection available for Crown land in Australia.[10] Once a national park or class A nature reserve is made, mining leases and general purpose leases cannot be granted over them without the consent of both Houses of Parliament, and actual mining cannot take place within them without specific permission of the Minister for Environment. This occurred in 2003, when a portion of the reserve was excised in order to facilitate the Gorgon gas development program.[11]
The island is known for its diversity of mammalian fauna, including several species now extinct or greatly reduced on mainland Australia. Thirteen mammal species exist on the island, including the
Some exotic species exist on the island (e.g. the
Limestone caves on Barrow Island support subterranean ecological communities. These include endemic and vulnerable species. Invertebrate species include
Birds
Barrow Island has been classified by
Conservation
The Western Shield project has sought to reduce the impact of introduced species to the region. Corporate and state government cooperation on programs has produced studies into the little-known subterranean fauna of the island.
Energy reserves
Oil
Gas
In December 2009, a development consortium between the Australian subsidiaries of
Climate
Barrow Island has a hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh) with very hot, humid summers with highly variable rainfall; and warm, dry winters.
| Climate data for Barrow Island Airport (20º52'S, 115º25'E, 6 m AMSL) (1999-2024 and extremes) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 45.0 (113.0) |
41.2 (106.2) |
40.3 (104.5) |
38.2 (100.8) |
33.8 (92.8) |
30.9 (87.6) |
29.2 (84.6) |
33.3 (91.9) |
36.0 (96.8) |
39.5 (103.1) |
40.0 (104.0) |
42.4 (108.3) |
45.0 (113.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.2 (91.8) |
33.7 (92.7) |
33.5 (92.3) |
31.3 (88.3) |
27.5 (81.5) |
24.3 (75.7) |
23.8 (74.8) |
25.2 (77.4) |
27.2 (81.0) |
29.6 (85.3) |
30.6 (87.1) |
32.3 (90.1) |
29.4 (84.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 25.8 (78.4) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.6 (79.9) |
24.6 (76.3) |
21.3 (70.3) |
18.8 (65.8) |
17.5 (63.5) |
17.9 (64.2) |
19.7 (67.5) |
21.8 (71.2) |
23.0 (73.4) |
24.5 (76.1) |
22.3 (72.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 21.0 (69.8) |
21.5 (70.7) |
21.0 (69.8) |
19.0 (66.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
12.8 (55.0) |
11.8 (53.2) |
12.2 (54.0) |
14.7 (58.5) |
16.0 (60.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
19.8 (67.6) |
11.8 (53.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 20.7 (0.81) |
43.2 (1.70) |
53.3 (2.10) |
34.1 (1.34) |
60.1 (2.37) |
34.7 (1.37) |
13.1 (0.52) |
3.5 (0.14) |
1.2 (0.05) |
1.6 (0.06) |
1.5 (0.06) |
6.1 (0.24) |
271.3 (10.68) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 15.5 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%)
|
58 | 59 | 59 | 53 | 55 | 56 | 58 | 52 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 54 | 55 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 21.9 (71.4) |
22.7 (72.9) |
22.5 (72.5) |
18.8 (65.8) |
16.7 (62.1) |
14.3 (57.7) |
14.1 (57.4) |
13.4 (56.1) |
14.4 (57.9) |
16.2 (61.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
19.8 (67.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[22] | |||||||||||||
Highest wind record
The
See also
References
- ^ "Barrow Island, Western Australia (Towns & Localities)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Barrow Island (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Landgate - Interesting facts about Western Australia". 2009. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- ^ "Evidence of the earliest occupation of the coasts of Australia from Barrow Island, Northwest Australia". Phys.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.Research by Barrow Island Archaeology Project.
- ^ doi:10.1080/03122417.1984.12092954. Archived from the originalon 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ "Barrow Island". gorgon.com.au. Retrieved 13 December 2006.
- ^ "Morowa Historical Society - Ghosttowns of Western Australia" (PDF). 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "The West Australian". 1888. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "10-year plan for Pilbara islands released". 24 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ "Conservation Reserves" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ "Barrow Island Bill 2003". Parliament of Western Australia.
- ^ a b "Technical Appendix C2: mammals and reptiles" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- .
- ISBN 978-2-8317-0682-5.
- ISBN 0-7307-5549-5.
Threats: The production of oil since the 1960s has resulted in considerable pollution of the ground water ... effect this pollution has had, if any, is not known.
- ^ "Technical Appendix C3: Avifauna" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ "IBA: Barrow Island". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ "Technology in Australia 1788–1988: North West Shelf". Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ Mitch Reardon. The Good Oil on Conservation in Australian Geographic. #37, Jan - Mar 1995. p. 94
- ^ "Satellite image of workers housing complex". Wikimapia. Archived from the original on 14 December 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
- ^ "Gorgon Project Business Overview". chevron.com. Chevron Policy, Government and Public. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Barrow Island Airport Climate Statistics". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b World Record Wind Gust: 408 km/h Archived 20 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine. World Meteorological Organization.
- ^ Courtney, J., et al. 2012, Documentation and verification of the world extreme wind gust record: 113.3 m/s on Barrow Island, Australia, during passage of tropical cyclone Olivia. Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal 62: 1-9.
Further reading
- Butler, Harry, (1982) Barrow Island (written by Harry Butler and compiled by Jacqueline Cox with assistance of other Wapet staff). Perth, W.A : West Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd.