Elizabeth Island (Victoria)

Elizabeth Island
Victoria
Elizabeth Island; Victoria
	Elizabeth Island Location off French Island
Coordinates	38°25′0.48″S 145°22′8.4″E / 38.4168000°S 145.369000°E

Map of French Island, with much smaller Elizabeth Island close south

Elizabeth Island lies just south of French Island in Western Port, Victoria, south-eastern Australia, and just north of Phillip Island. It is over 65 acres (26 hectares) in area and is an unincorporated area^[1] of Victoria, one of the few privately owned, freehold islands in Victoria. Once used for farming, it has been converted into a holiday retreat, with the establishment of a pier and housing facilities. Access is via boat, barge or helicopter.

Environment

The island rises to about 20 metres (66 feet) above sea level, and comprises fertile soil on volcanic rock and sandstone. It is covered mostly in native grass, with areas of native trees and shrubs, and a few large pine trees. There are a variety of bird species on and around the island. The area off the north eastern coast provides a feeding ground for native birds, including swans, when the tide is very low. The white-bellied sea eagle can be seen on the island at times, and nests on nearby French Island. The shoreline consists of pebblestone beach, with small areas of mangroves, sandstone, larger rocks, and some small areas of sand. There are a number of rock pools. The southern part of the island provides constant deep-water access and is close to a deep-water channel where various sea life is found. The island has direct access to Westernport Bay. There is a small rocky peninsula on the south eastern corner of the island, with mangroves and grasses. This area becomes separated at high tide.

History

The island bears the remnants of a shipwreck on its western beach, believed to be the rescue boat off a German ship. A former owner crashed his aeroplane on French Island attempting to view Elizabeth Island, having recently purchased it in a bar.

References

^ "Map of local council wards in Victoria, prepared by the Australian Electoral Commission". Retrieved 2013-01-03.

External links

[Local_Government_Victoria_Ward_Map-1] "Map of local council wards in Victoria, prepared by the Australian Electoral Commission". Retrieved 2013-01-03.

[1]

v t e Localities in Unincorporated areas
Town	Falls Creek^ (inc. Falls Creek Alpine Resort) Marysville^ (inc. Lake Mountain) Mount Buller^ (inc. Mount Buller Alpine Resort & Mount Stirling)
Locality	Baw Baw Village Elizabeth Island (Victoria) French Island Gabo Island Hotham Heights^ (inc. Mount Hotham Alpine Resort) Lady Julia Percy Island Mirimbah^ (inc. Mount Buller Alpine Resort & Mount Stirling) Sandstone Island
^ - Territory divided with another LGA

v t e Islands and islets of Victoria, Australia
Near East Gippsland	Gabo The Skerries Tullaberga
Near Corner Inlet	Bennison Bullock Calf Clonmel Corner Cyril Dog Doughboy Drum East Scrubby Granite Horn Hunter Little Dog Little Snake Long One Tree Pelican Rescue Roberts Saint Margaret Scrubby Shag Sheep Snake Spec Sunday
Near Wilsons Promontory	Anser Group Anser Cleft Kanowna Glennie Group Citadel Dannevig Great Glennie McHugh Hogan Group Northern Boundary Seal Islands Group Cliffy Notch Rag Seal Norman Rabbit Rabbit Rock Shellback Wattle
In Western Port	Barrallier Chinaman Churchill Elizabeth French Joe Long Middle Spit Pelican Phillip Quail Ram Reef Seal Rocks Sandstone Schnapper Rock Tortoise Head Bank
In Port Phillip	Duck Mud Pope's Eye South Channel Fort Swan
Near Portland Bay	Griffiths Lady Julia Percy Lawrence Rocks Middle
In rivers	Beveridge Coode Gateway Herring Pental Raymond Rotamah The Island Ulupna
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