Coral Bay, Western Australia
Coral Bay Federal division(s) | Durack |
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Coral Bay is a small coastal settlement located 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) north of Perth, in the Shire of Carnarvon in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
Bordered by the
Geography
Coral Bay is located on the
Geology
Soils in Coral Bay are sandy and calcareous due to oxide leaching. Coral Bay forms part of the Carnarvon Basin, an area consisting of undulating sand plains that slant toward the ocean, resulting in a low relief open drainage pattern.[8] The surrounding coastline is characterised by limestone platforms. Coral Bay also lies upon the Bullara Sunklands, a depression that runs along the eastern coast of Western Australia from Shark Bay to Exmouth Gulf.[8] The natural vegetation in the area consists of the spinifex, wattle and poverty bush shrub varieties. There is also a strong mangrove presence with Avicennia marina being particularly dominant. Buffel is the most common grass in the region.[8] In the Ningaloo Marine Park more than 200 species of coral fauna can be found, alongside animal species such as green and hawksbill turtles, humpbacks whales, dugongs and whale sharks.[8]
History
The Gascoyne region was originally populated by the
The first known European sighting of the North West Cape was made in early 1618 by a crew member of the Dutch ship Zeewolf. Later that year Captain Jacobz of the ship Mauritius made contact with land, however the district remained largely uninhabited for decades following due to its dry climate and remote location.[10][11]
The earliest recorded European activity in the Coral Bay region was at Mauds Landing, which acted as a shipping point for wool, sheep and cattle from 1884 to 1946. The port was named after the schooner Maud, whose captain discovered the site 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Coral Bay. The area saw the construction of a jetty in 1896, followed by a tramway, a well and a wool-shed.
It was not until the late 1960s that Bills Bay began to form a functioning township, when a section of Cardabia Station was sold to Ken Ryan. Upon this he built a caravan park, a hotel and a service station.[16] The town name Coral Bay likely derived from the Coral Bay Hotel built by Ryan.[17] The area was visited a few years later in 1973 by Bill and Alison Brogan who recognised the potential of the region to become a popular tourist destination. Bill purchased a transportable building, a charter yacht and a sight-seeing boat which he called Miss Coral Bay I.[18] The 1980s saw the formation of a housing estate and the tapping of artesian groundwater.[16]
Economy
Coral Bay's economy is primarily built on nature-based tourism due to its close proximity to the Ningaloo Reef. In 2016 the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that more than 70% of the local workforce was employed in tourism or industries related to it.[6]
Coral Bay is marketed widely as a premier holiday destination and the town offers a number of tourist activities such as
Further tourist attractions in the surrounding area include:[24]
- Oyster bridge
- Paradise Beach
- Bills Bay
- Skeleton Bay Reef Shark Nursery
- Purdy Point
- Point Maud & Mauds Landing
Facilities
Coral Bay sources its water from artesian wells, desalinated for domestic use. The town has three 275 kW wind turbines and a power station with seven low-load diesel engines.[26] Waste-water and sewerage infrastructure are in place. The town also supports an airstrip suitable for light aircraft and a maritime facility with a double boat ramp, two finger jetties, a service jetty and 11 dinghy pens.[26][27]
Coral Bay has two caravan parks and a resort.[28][29]
There is a small shopping arcade which contains a supermarket, a bakery, tourist shops, and the Coral Bay Nursing Post which provides healthcare services to both residents and visitors.[30] A doctor is available one day a week for residents only.[31] The town also contains several restaurants.[31]
Heritage listings
- Site Of Mauds Landing
- Ningaloo Marine Area
- Ningaloo Coast
- French's Shack
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Coral Bay (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Coral Bay (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021.
- ^ "Coral Bay |". Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ Ningaloo Marine Park Visitor Information (PDF). Department of Environment and Conservation. 2009.
- ^ Goble-Garratt and Associates; Environmental Advisory Services; Dal Science & Engineering; Kate Morse; Kelley Whittaker; Michael Robinson and Associates (2002). Public Environmental Review for Two Proposals for the Development of a Single Boating Facility at Either Monck Head or North Bills Bay, near Coral Bay. Perth, W.A: Dal Science & Engineering.
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Coral Bay (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions". www.dbca.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d Western Australia, ed. (1997). Gascoyne geographic perspective: an overview of the geography of Western Australia's Gascoyne Region. Carnarvon, W.A: The Commission.
- S2CID 159650775.
- ^ Australian Heritage Database (August 2008). "Ningaloo Coast" (PDF). Australian Government Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
- ^ "WA Holiday Guide - Coral Bay Western Australia - Visitor Information". www.waholidayguide.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Heritage Council of WA - Places Database". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "inHerit - State Heritage Office". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Heritage Council of WA - Places Database". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "inHerit - State Heritage Office". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ .
- ^ "inHerit - State Heritage Office". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "A little history". Ningaloo Coral Bay. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ Mulgrew, Alan (2003). "Western Australian Tourism Commission Annual Report 2003-2004" (PDF). Tourism Western Australia.
- ^ Shire Of Carnarvon (2014). Coral Bay Settlement Structure Plan 2014. Western Australia: Government of Western Australia Department of Regional Development.
- ^ "Tourist numbers increased at Coral Bay". www.abc.net.au. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- S2CID 53766519.
- ^ "Whale Watching Tours". Ningaloo Coral Bay. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ a b Ningaloo Visitor Centre (2018). Visit Ningaloo, Exmouth and Coral Bay. Exmouth.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Coral Bay". www.ningaloowhalesharks.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Regional infrastructure | Gascoyne Development Commission". Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Coral Bay Maritime facility" (PDF). Western Australia Department of Transport. 2017.
- ^ "Carnarvon Visitor Centre - Town Services & Facilities". www.carnarvon.org.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Overview". Ningaloo Reef Resort. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Shops & amenities". Ningaloo Coral Bay. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Best Camping Site in Australia - FAQ". Peoples Park Coral Bay. Retrieved 30 October 2020.