Damon Mcknight
French Island is located in Western Port, just off the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. It is accessible only by passenger ferry from Stony Point and Cowes. The island is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including birds, koalas, and rat kangaroos (potoroos). It offers a range of nature-based experiences such as hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, and camping. French Island is also known for its Aboriginal cultural significance, as it was once a hunting ground for the Bunurong people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Western Port, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia |
| Population | 139 (as of 2021 census) |
| Access | Passenger ferry from Stony Point and Cowes |
| Accommodation | Camping, bed and breakfast, guesthouse, and farmstay |
| Wildlife | Koalas, Long-nosed Potaroo, Purple Moorhen, Swamp Harriers, Cape Barren Geese, birds, and rat kangaroos (potoroos) |
| Vegetation | Over 580 indigenous plant species, including 100+ native orchid species |
| Environmental Protection | French Island National Park (declared in 1997) and French Island Marine National Park (declared in 2002) |
| Infrastructure | No water mains, electricity mains, or medical services. One general store and post office in Tankerton. |
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What You'll Learn
French Island National Park
French Island is located in Western Port, just off the Mornington Peninsula, 80 km southeast of Melbourne, Victoria. It is accessible only by passenger ferry from Stony Point and Cowes. The island is undeveloped and lacks basic amenities such as water mains, electricity mains, and medical services. It is known for its diverse range of wildlife and environments, including mangrove saltmarsh areas, coastal mangroves, swamps, heath, grasslands, blue gum forests, and open woodlands. The island is also home to Victoria's most significant koala population, as well as other unique species such as the Long-nosed Potaroo and the critically endangered Eastern-barred Bandicoot.
The island has a small population of around 139 people and limited amenities, with only one general store and a primary school. The main mode of transportation on the island is by car or bicycle, with roads such as Link Road, Clump Road, and Causeway Road accessible to vehicles.
French Island provides a peaceful and serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, offering a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in nature and explore a diverse range of flora and fauna. Visitors can opt for guided tours or explore the island at their own pace, discovering its hidden gems and untouched natural beauty.
With its abundance of natural attractions and cultural significance, French Island National Park is a treasured destination for those seeking a tranquil and immersive experience in a pristine natural environment.
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Aboriginal cultural landscape
French Island is located in Western Port, just off the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. It is accessible only by passenger ferry from Stony Point and Cowes. The island is home to a diverse range of wildlife and environments, including mangrove saltmarsh areas, coastal mangroves, swamps, heath, grasslands, blue gum forests, and open woodlands.
French Island National Park, which makes up 70% of the island, is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional country of the Bunurong People. The Bunurong People lived on the mainland and travelled to French Island to collect shellfish and swan eggs. They left behind shell middens and stone scatters, and today, several registered sites on the island consist of these remains.
The Aboriginal people of Australia have a deep and spiritual connection to the land, which is central to their worldview. They believe that their ancestral spirits emerged from the earth and the sky, and that the land is sacred and holds their stories, religion, customs, and ancestors. This connection to the land is so strong that Aboriginal people are bound to a particular territory of land through spiritual links and obligations of care and custodianship to family, community, lore, and country.
Traditional cultural beliefs are passed down through dancing, stories, songlines, and art, collectively forming an ontology of modern daily life and ancient creation known as the Dreaming. The Aboriginal people have a complex genetic history, with evidence suggesting genetic inheritance from ancient Asia. They have one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world, with over 250 languages and varying degrees of technology and settlements at the time of European colonisation.
Today, the Bunurong Traditional Owners continue to care for the land and waters of French Island, and their connection to this country is recognised by Parks Victoria.
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Wildlife and nature
French Island, located in Western Port, just off the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia, is known for its diverse range of wildlife and nature. The island is accessible only by passenger ferry, making it a secluded haven for those seeking peace and serenity amid nature.
French Island National Park, declared in 1997, encompasses about 70% of the island and showcases an ever-changing landscape shaped by water. The island features a variety of habitats, including coastal mangroves, swamps, heathlands, grasslands, and blue gum forests. This diverse environment supports a rich ecosystem with an abundance of flora and fauna.
The island is particularly renowned for its koala population, offering the densest and most disease-free koala habitat in the world. Visitors can spot these iconic marsupials in their natural environment, with the opportunity to observe them in the wild. The island also serves as a sanctuary for other unique wildlife species, such as the Long-nosed Potaroo and the critically endangered Eastern-barred Bandicoot.
Birdwatchers will delight in the over 230 bird species that have been recorded on the island, including rare birds like the White-Bellied Sea-Eagle, King Quail, and the Orange-Bellied Parrot. The island's mudflats and shellfish-rich waters attract a variety of wading birds, ibis, herons, and egrets, providing a birdwatcher's paradise.
French Island is also a botanical wonderland, boasting more than 580 indigenous plant species. It is especially known for its rich diversity of orchids, with over 100 native orchid species thriving in the island's unique habitat. The island's landscapes range from rocky shorelines and sandy beaches to mangroves, salt marshes, and wetlands that shift with the tides and seasons, creating a dynamic and captivating natural environment.
French Island offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and explore its untouched landscapes. Visitors can choose from various nature-based experiences, including hiking, birdwatching, and camping, allowing them to connect with the island's pristine beauty and discover its abundant wildlife.
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Access and accommodation
French Island is located in Western Port, just off the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. It is accessible only by ferry from Stony Point and Cowes Jetty. The Western Port Ferries passenger ferry runs several services daily from Stony Point Pier to Tankerton Jetty and Cowes on Phillip Island. The crossing takes about 15 minutes. The French Island Barge Company operates a vehicular ferry from Corinella on the eastern side of Western Port to the barge landing on French Island. It can accommodate two standard-size cars or a larger truck. There is no airport on the island, although a few properties have private landing strips.
French Island is isolated and undeveloped. There are no water mains, electricity mains, or medical services on the island. There is one small general store and post office located on Tankerton Road, about 3 km (1.9 mi) from Tankerton Jetty. Take-away food and supplies can be purchased here.
There are various accommodation options on French Island. These include camping, bed and breakfast, guesthouses, cabins, and farmstays. There is one free camping site located in the National Park at Fairhaven, 5 km up the coast road from Tankerton Jetty. The campground is set among trees near the beach, with three public toilets and a water tank. While the site is free, advance booking is required. Other camping sites are available at "private sites" at French Island Eco Inn and through the local French Island tour operator.
There are also holiday rentals and homes available on Airbnb. These include the Chiara Beach Cottage, which is suitable for small intimate groups, and the Treetops Tri-Level Cottages, which can accommodate two persons or one couple.
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History
French Island, located in Western Port Bay, about 70 to 80 kilometres southeast of Melbourne, has a long and intriguing history. The island was first inhabited by the indigenous Boonwurrung people of the Kulin nation, who used it as a hunting ground for shellfish and swan eggs. They lived on the mainland and travelled to the island.
In 1802, the island was circumnavigated by a French scientific expedition led by Nicolas Baudin, who named it "Ile de France" or "Ile des Francais". This name was later Anglicised to "French Island". The same year, Lieutenant John Murray named the island "Western Island", but Baudin's name prevailed.
The first recorded settlers on the island were William and John Gardiner in 1847, who held the first pastoral lease and grazed 8,000 sheep. In 1844, the island was briefly occupied by two men who manufactured barilla from the island's extensive mangroves. The mangroves were burned to produce ash, which was used in soap and glass-making. This enterprise lasted until the 1860s, when instant coffee killed the chicory business.
During the 1890s economic depression, six settlements were planned for the unemployed: Energy, Star of Hope, Industrial, Perseverance, Callanan's, and Kiernan's. However, due to a lack of roads, fresh water, and building materials, these settlements ultimately failed, and most settlers left the island. In 1867, the first land subdivision took place, dividing 4,733 acres into 14 allotments. The first land sales occurred in 1873, with a minimum price of £1 per acre.
In 1916, the McLeod prison settlement was established in the southeast of the island, named after the Chief Secretary at the time. The prison farm housed up to 127 inmates, who worked on planting pines in deforested areas.
During the 1960s and 1970s, industrial development on the nearby mainland attracted interest in French Island. Various proposals emerged, including a nuclear power station, a petrochemical plant, and a jet airport. This led to environmental concerns and scientific studies of the island's flora and fauna, resulting in the discovery of a diverse range of wildlife, including the rare White-breasted Sea Eagle and Short-nosed Potoroo.
In 1967, the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV) proposed reserving 400 acres of French Island for the construction of a nuclear power plant. However, due to low-cost brown coal and pressure from anti-nuclear movements, these plans were abandoned in favour of continuing to build brown coal power stations.
In July 1997, about 70% of the island was declared the French Island National Park, recognising its ecological significance.
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Frequently asked questions
French Island is located in Western Port, just off the Mornington Peninsula, in southern Victoria, Australia. It is southeast of Melbourne, covering an area of 84 square miles (218 square km).
French Island is accessible only by passenger ferry from Stony Point and Cowes. The Western Port Ferries passenger ferry runs several services daily from Stony Point Pier to Tankerton Jetty and Cowes on Phillip Island.
French Island National Park offers a diverse range of wildlife and environments, including coastal mangroves, swamps, grasslands, blue gum forests, and woodlands. There are over 580 indigenous plant species and over 230 bird species on the island. Visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, camping, and other nature-based experiences.
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