Furneaux Group, Tasmania
Encyclopedia
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
, between Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The islands were named, after British
navigator Tobias Furneaux
Tobias Furneaux
Captain Tobias Furneaux was an English navigator and Royal Navy officer, who accompanied James Cook on his second voyage of exploration. He was the first man to circumnavigate the world in both directions....
who sighted the eastern side of these Island after leaving Adventure Bay in 1773 on his way to New Zealand to rejoin Captain James Cook. Navigator Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
explored the Furneaux Islands group first in the Francis
Francis
Francis is a French and English first name and a surname of Latin origin.Francis is a name that has many derivatives in most European languages. The female version of the name in English is Frances, and Francine...
in 1798 and later that year in the Norfolk
Norfolk (sloop)
The Colonial sloop Norfolk: “The necessity of a vessel to keep up a more frequent intercourse with Norfolk Island, …having been much felt by the want of various stores …occasioned Captain Townson, the Commanding officer, to construct a small decked boat, sloop rigged, in which he sent His letters...
.
The largest islands in the group are Flinders Island
Flinders Island
Flinders Island may refer to:In Australia:* Flinders Island , in the Furneaux Group, is the largest and best known* Flinders Island * Flinders Island , in the Investigator Group* Flinders Island...
, Cape Barren Island and Clarke Island. The region contains five settlements Killiecrankie, Emita, Whitemark, Lady Barron, Cape Barren Island and Whitemark on Flinders Island which serves as the administrative center of the Municipality of Flinders local government area.
The historically notable Aboriginal woman Dolly Dalrymple was born in the area.
King Island, at the western end of Bass Strait, is not a part of the group.
Kent Group islands
The group of islands to the north west is the Kent GroupKent Group
The Kent Group of Islands lies in Bass Strait, Australia, north-west of the Furneaux Group. They form the Kent Group National Park.The islands were named Kent's Group by Matthew Flinders, "in honour of my friend captain William Kent, then commander of the Supply" when Flinders passed them on...
. Smaller islands in the group include Anderson Island
Anderson Island (Tasmania)
Anderson Island, also known as Woody Island, is a granite island, with an area of 166 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Tin Kettle Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. It is partly a pastoral lease used...
, Babel Island
Babel Island
Babel Island is a granite island, with an area of 440 ha located off the east coast of Flinders Island. It is part of the Furneaux Group Archipelago, at the eastern end of Bass Strait, between Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. It is privately owned.-Fauna:...
, Badger Island
Badger Island
Badger Island is a low-lying granite and limestone island, with an area of 1242 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Badger Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait just west of Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. The island is private property and is...
, Billy Goat Reefs
Billy Goat Reefs
The Billy Goat Reefs are a close group of four small islands, joined at low tide, with a combined area of 1.3 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux...
, Big Green Island
Big Green Island
Big Green Island is an island with an area of 122 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Big Green Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait west of Flinders in the Furneaux Group. It is composed of granite with limestone and dolerite outcrops. It is partly a nature reserve...
, Briggs Islet
Briggs Islet
Briggs Islet is a small granite island, with an area of 3.4 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. It is a conservation area...
, Cat Island
Cat Island (Tasmania)
Cat Island is a granite island, with an area of 39 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Babel Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait off the east coast of Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group, and is part of the Babel Island Group Important Bird Area.-Fauna:Seabirds and...
, Chalky Island
Chalky Island (Tasmania)
Chalky Island is an island with an area of 41 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Big Green Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait west of Flinders in the Furneaux Group. It is composed of granite, with limestone outcrops and dolerite dykes. It is a conservation area...
, Cooties Reef
Cooties Reef
Cooties Reef is a narrow islet, with an area of 0.15 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Vansittart Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group.-Fauna:...
, Doughboy Island
Doughboy Island (Tasmania)
Doughboy Island is a mainly granite island, with an area of 30 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Tin Kettle Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group...
, East Kangaroo Island
East Kangaroo Island
East Kangaroo Island is an island nature reserve with an area of 157 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Big Green Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait west of Flinders in the Furneaux Group. It is composed of limestone with granite outcrops and dolerite dykes. It was...
, Fisher Island
Fisher Island (Tasmania)
Fisher Island is a small granite island, with an area of 0.9 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group...
, Fisher Island Reef
Fisher Island Reef
Fisher Island Reef is a small granite island, with an area of 1,000 square metres, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group, and is close to Fisher Island.-Flora and...
, Forsyth Island
Forsyth Island
Forsyth Island is a granite island, with an area of 167 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Passage Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait south of Cape Barren Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Great Dog Island
Great Dog Island (Tasmania)
Great Dog Island, also known as Big Dog Island, is a granite island, with an area of 354 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group...
, Inner Sister Island
Inner Sister Island
Inner Sister Island is an island, with an area of 748 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Sisters Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait off the northern point of Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Outer Sister Island
Outer Sister Island
Outer Sister Island is a granite and dolerite island, with an area of 545 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Sisters Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait off the northern point of Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Isabella Island
Isabella Island
Isabella Island is an island nature reserve, with an area of 11.4 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Big Green Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait west of Flinders in the Furneaux Group...
, Little Anderson Island
Little Anderson Island
Little Anderson Island is an island, with an area of 13 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Tin Kettle Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. The island is joined at low tide to nearby Anderson and Tin Kettle...
, Little Chalky Island
Little Chalky Island
Little Chalky Island is a small, flat, granite island with an area of 5 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Big Green Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait west of Flinders in the Furneaux Group...
, Little Dog Island
Little Dog Island
Little Dog Island is a square, flat granite island, with an area of 83 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. It is a game reserve. It was previously grazed, a...
, Little Green Island
Little Green Island
Little Green Island is a granite island, with an area of , in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. It is partly a conservation area, and partly private property, used...
, Long Island
Long Island (Tasmania)
Long Island is a granite and dolerite island, with an area of 313 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Long Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait north-west of Cape Barren Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Low Islets
Low Islets (Prime Seal Group)
The Low Islets are two small, flat, adjacent, granite islands, with a combined area of about 2 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are part of Tasmania’s Prime Seal Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait west of Flinders in the Furneaux Group...
, and another of the same name Low Islets
Low Islets (Tasmania)
The Low Islets are a close pair of small granite islands, with a combined area of about 2 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are part of Tasmania’s Passage Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait south of Cape Barren Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Middle Pasco Island, Mile Island
Mile Island
Mile Island is an island with an area of 4 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Big Green Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait west of Flinders in the Furneaux Group. It is a conservation area...
, Moriarty Rocks
Moriarty Rocks
Moriarty Rocks are a group of two major granite rocks, and several smaller ones, with a combined area of 2.46 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are part of Tasmania’s Passage Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait south of Cape Barren Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Mount Chappell Island
Mount Chappell Island
Mount Chappell Island was originally named "Mount Chappelle" by Matthew Flinders for his wife's maiden name. It is a mainly dolerite island, with a distinctive central hill and with an area of 323 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Badger Island Group, lying in eastern Bass...
, Neds Reef
Neds Reef
Neds Reef is a group of three small granite islets, joined at low tide by extensive mudflats, with a combined area of about 3 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are part of Tasmania’s Tin Kettle Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux...
, Night Island
Night Island (Tasmania)
Night Island is a small granite island, with an area of 2.59 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Preservation Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait south of Cape Barren Island in the Furneaux Group. It is a Conservation Area...
, North Pasco Island
North Pasco Island
North Pasco Island is a granite island, with an area of 28 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Pasco Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait off the north-west coast of Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Passage Island (Tasmania)
Passage Island (Tasmania)
Passage Island is a granite and dolerite island, with an area of 253 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Passage Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait south of Cape Barren Island in the Furneaux Group. It is a pastoral lease that has been used for grazing cattle...
, Pelican Island
Pelican Island (Tasmania)
Pelican Island is an island, with an area of 6.8 ha including an associated reef joined to it at low tide, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Vansittart Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. Until 1984 it was...
, Prime Seal Island
Prime Seal Island
Prime Seal Island is a long island, with a high central ridge and an area of 1220 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Prime Seal Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait west of Flinders in the Furneaux Group. Geologically, it is limestone overlying granite and has notable...
, Puncheon Island
Puncheon Island
Puncheon Island is an island, with an area of 17.56 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Vansittart Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. It is surrounded by mudflats. It is privately owned and used for...
, Puncheon Islets
Puncheon Islets
Puncheon Islets is a small island, comprising two rocks which are joined at low tide, with an area of less than a hectare, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Vansittart Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group...
, Roydon Island
Roydon Island
Roydon Island is an island, with an area of 37 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Pasco Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait off the north-west coast of Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group.-Fauna:...
, Rum Island
Rum Island (Tasmania)
Rum Island is a granite island, with an area of 13.5 ha, just south of Preservation Island in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Preservation Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait south-west of Cape Barren Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Samphire Island
Samphire Island
Samphire Island is a small shell-grit island, with an area of 3.3 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group...
, Sentinel Island
Sentinel Island (Tasmania)
Sentinel Island is a granite island, with an area of 10 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Sentinel Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait off the north-west coast of Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group...
, South Pasco Island
South Pasco Island
South Pasco Island is an island, with an area of 21 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Pasco Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait off the north-west coast of Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Spences Reefs
Spences Reefs
Spences Reefs comprises two islets, with a combined area of 0.65 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are close to the south-east corner of Little Green Island and part of Tasmania’s Great Dog Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group...
, Spike Island
Spike Island (Tasmania)
Spike Island is a close pair of two granite islands, with a combined area of 6 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Passage Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait south of Cape Barren Island in the Furneaux Group...
, Storehouse Island
Storehouse Island
Storehouse Island is a granite island, with an area of 20 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Babel Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait off the east coast of Flinders Island in the Furneaux Group, and also forms part of the Babel Island Group Important Bird...
, Swan Island
Swan Island (Tasmania)
Swan Island is a granite island, with an area of 239 ha , in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. Part of the island is privately owned and it contains an automated lighthouse, several houses and an airstrip. It...
, Tin Kettle Island
Tin Kettle Island
Tin Kettle Island is a long, sandy island, with an area of 176 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Tin Kettle Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. The island is joined at low tide to nearby Anderson and...
, Vansittart Island
Vansittart Island (Tasmania)
Vansittart Island, also known as Gun Carriage Island, is a granite island, with an area of 800 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Vansittart Island Group, lying in eastern Bass Strait between Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Furneaux Group. It is partly private...
.
Geology
The islands contain granite from the DevonianDevonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
period, as well as unconsolidated limestone and sand from Cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
periods. During the ice age, a land bridge joined Tasmania to the Australian mainland through this group of islands.