Cape Paterson
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Cape Paterson (
Cape Paterson has six beaches.[2]
Cape Paterson was named by Lieut. James Grant in 1801 to honour explorer Lieut. Col. William Paterson, second in command of the Botany Bay (Sydney) battalion.
Today
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Safety_Beach_Cape_Paterson.jpg/350px-Safety_Beach_Cape_Paterson.jpg)
Cape Paterson is a small town near the larger town of Wonthaggi. It is a popular tourist destination and has a large influx of campers during the summer months. Fishing is very popular there.
Cape Paterson has 2 local lifesaving clubs. The Wonthaggi Royal Life Saving Club and is located at the Bay Beach, and the Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club is located at First Surf Beach.
Rockpool
The Bay Beach near Cape Paterson
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Miners_building_rockpool%2C_1960%27s%2C_Cape_Paterson.jpg/220px-Miners_building_rockpool%2C_1960%27s%2C_Cape_Paterson.jpg)
Coast
Cape Paterson has six beaches, namely "F" Break, 2nd Surf, 1st Surf, Safety Beach-Browns Bay, Undertow Bay and The Oaks.[5]
Fishing
Cape Paterson is popular for surf and rock fishing. Undertow Bay is popular for catching Mullet and Salmon. Brown's Bay is good for Whiting and juvenile Snapper (Pinky). In the whole of the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Cape_Paterson_Beach_Shimmer.jpg/220px-Cape_Paterson_Beach_Shimmer.jpg)
Museum
Australia’s first dinosaur bone, the Cape Paterson Claw, was discovered here in 1903 by William Ferguson nearby in what is now Eagles Nest, Bunurong Marine National Park, Inverloch. Today, the Dinosaur Dreaming fossil excavation at the Flat Rocks coastal site by Anderson Inlet attracts both Australian and international visitors.[6] More than 6000 bones and teeth of small dinosaurs, mammals, birds, turtles and fish have been excavated.[7] There is a Dinosaur exhibibition at the Inverloch Shell Museum[8]
Bunurong Marine Parks
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Neweaglesnest2.jpg/220px-Neweaglesnest2.jpg)
Both parks are named after the
Bunurong Marine Park is considered special due to the unusual set of environmental conditions. It supports many marine animals including
Flat Rocks is a beach which has large rockpools for rockpooling/rambling and direct access from Cape Paterson-Inverloch Road. Bunurong Marine Park is seen and accessed at many different points along this coast, a popular one being near Cape Paterson
Eagles Nest is a large rock structure adjacent to the coastline that resembles the top half of a map of Australia.[13]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Cape_Paterson_Reef.jpg/220px-Cape_Paterson_Reef.jpg)
Climate
Cape Paterson's location on the north shore of Bass Strait gives it an oceanic climate, with the moderating effect of the ocean allowing a narrower temperature range throughout the year compared to other regions in Victoria. Average daily maximum temperatures range from 23.5 °C in summer to 13.5 in winter. Frost is rare, occurring on average 6 mornings a year.[14]
History
The Bunurong
Explorer William Hovell first discovered black coal in the cliffs at Cape Paterson in 1826.This and other sites were rediscovered 10 years later by Samuel Anderson who settled at Bass in 1835. In 1858, 2,000 tons of coal were hauled to the coast at Cape Paterson and taken by whaleboat to ships for transportation to Melbourne. Tram rails on the beach are reminders of further attempts to remove coal from the area later in the century, which still remain on the beach to the west of No 2 surf beach.[13]
Tourist Information
An in depth tourist information guide is available on the Visit Cape Paterson Website
Education
There is one primary school in nearby Inverloch and three
Facilities
- Safety Beach and rockpool, Browns Bay, Surf Beach Road[2]
- Playground - picnic areas, table, barbecue, near the caravan park, Surf Beach Road[21]
- Coast; "F" Break, 2nd Surf, 1st Surf, Safety Beach Browns Bay, Undertow Bay, The Oaks, Twin Reefs, Shack Bay, Eagles Nest, The Caves and Flat Rocks[2]
- Old foreshore public hall[13]
- Wonthaggi Market - every 2nd Sunday in the centre of Wonthaggi[2]
- Historic mine mine shaft tower, Apex Park, Murray Street, Wonthaggi[2]
- Seashell/driftwood Collecting is NOT permitted on Cape Paterson coast from; ‘The Oaks’ to ‘Eagles Nest’ as this is the Bunurong Marine National Park. Access near Cape Paterson caravan park on Surf Beach Road. Left down the coast is Browns Bay, Undertow Bay, The Oaks, Twin Reefs, Shack Bay, Eagles Nest, Wreck Creek, The Caves, Flat Rocks[10]
- Bunurong Marine Park - explore/snorkel, Surf Beach Road[22]
- Bunurong Marine National Park - protected state park, explore/snorkel, Inverloch-Cape Paterson Road[22]
- Wonthaggi Golf Course - 18 hole, par 72, ACR 70, easy walk, McKenzie Street, Wonthaggi[23]
- Wonthaggi railway station museum - open Saturday mornings, Murray Street, Wonthaggi[24]
- State Coal Mine - museum and tours, Garden Street, Wonthaggi[25]
- Coal mine ruins - Number 5 Brace & the McBride tunnel entry, off West Area Road Wonthaggi and scattered around this and neighbouring towns[2]
- Wonthaggi Hospital - Smoking ban, Graham Street, Wonthaggi[26]
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Cape Paterson (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bass Coast Information Centres, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ a b CPCP, retrieved 14 November 2013
- ^ Terry Gitcham Allen. Powlett Tent Town. p. 63. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ Bass Coast Information Centres (PDF), retrieved 18 November 2013
- ^ The Museum Of Victoria, retrieved 14 November 2013
- ^ a b Parks Victoria, retrieved 14 November 2013
- ^ Inverloch Shell Museum, retrieved 14 November 2013
- ^ Bunurong Marine National Park, Parks Victoria, 2010, archived from the original on 13 November 2013, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ a b Department Of Environment And Primary Industries, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ Please Take Me To, archived from the original on 8 February 2014, retrieved 14 November 2013
- ^ South Gippsland, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ a b c Film Gippsland, archived from the original on 7 October 2013, retrieved 14 November 2013
- ^ "Australian Weather News". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ^ Chisholm TAFE, archived from the original on 30 October 2013, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ Bass Coast Specialist School, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ Bass Coast Adult Education Centre, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ University Of The Third Age (U3A), retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ Connecting Skills Australia, archived from the original on 10 November 2013, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ Bass Coast Shire, archived from the original on 9 November 2013, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ Cape Paterson Caravan Park-Public Playground, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ a b Parks Victoria, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ Wonthaggi Golf Club, retrieved 11 November 2013
- ^ Wonthaggi Historical Society, retrieved 11 November 2013
- ^ Parks Victoria, retrieved 13 November 2013
- ^ Bass Coast Regional Health, archived from the original on 28 September 2013, retrieved 12 November 2013