Partridge Island (Tasmania)

Partridge Island
	Partridge Island from the air
	Partridge Island Location of Partridge Island in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel
Geography
Location	D'Entrecasteaux Channel
Coordinates	43°24′S 147°06′E / 43.400°S 147.100°E
Archipelago	Partridge Island Group
Area	103 ha (250 acres)
Administration
	Australia
State	Tasmania

The Partridge Island, part of the Partridge Island Group, is an 103-hectare (250-acre) island that lies close to the south-eastern coast of Tasmania, Australia. The island is situated in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, between Bruny Island and the mainland of Tasmania and is part of the South Bruny National Park.^[1]^[2]

The other islands in the Partridge Island Group are:

Flora and fauna

The vegetation is mainly dry

understorey. Little penguins breed on the island. The endangered forty-spotted pardalote is present. European rabbits were introduced to the island but have since been eradicated. The eastern blue-tongued lizard has been recorded.^[1]

Acquisition

The island was privately owned and purchased from Dibbern estate on 8 January 1974 by Richard Ham, a Melbourne doctor, for $50,000. Dr Ham intended to establish an

Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service as part of the South Bruny National Park. Since acquisition, the island's maintenance has been neglected.^{[citation needed]} Blackberries and English ivy have invaded the bush and the jetty has become hazardous. In 1998 volunteers removed approximately 4 to 5 metric tons (4.4 to 5.5 short tons) of washed-up rubbish.^[3]