Gracetown, Western Australia
| Gracetown Western Australia |
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 Gracetown
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| Population: | 323 (2006 Census) [1] |
| Established: | 1963 |
| Postcode: | 6284 |
| Elevation: | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Augusta-Margaret River |
| State electorate: | Vasse |
| Federal Division: | Forrest |
Coordinates: 33°52′02″S 114°59′16″E / 33.8671°S 114.9879°E
Gracetown is a small town in Western Australia. It is located 269 km south of the Perth CBD, and 21.5km north west of the township of Margaret River in the Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council area on the coast at Cowaramup Bay.
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[edit] History
The area was initially used as a holiday area and later in 1957 it was proposed that the area should be developed as a camping and caravan park. Instead the government decided that the area would be developed as a townsite. The area was surveyed in 1961 and the bulk of the townsite was planned. Sale of lots within the townsite occurred in 1963, the same year the town was gazetted.[2]
It was named in honour of local Western Australian heroine Grace Bussell.
The Cape to Cape Track runs across the beach to the west of the town and is one of the few towns located along the track.[3]
There is a general store located in the town that provides a variety of goods and limited services. There are many holiday homes within the town that are available to rent all year round.
[edit] Surfing
- See also Huzzas
Gracetown is also home of the Margaret River Pro (formerly the Margaret River Masters) surfing competition. The competition is held annually at Surfers Point located close to the main town site of Gracetown.[4] The town is well known for its many surfing spots. The main beach area (located in the bay) is easily accessible and suitable for families with small children.
[edit] Huzzas Cliff
In 1996 a tragedy occurred on the local beach close to town when five adults and four children were killed in a cliff collapse while watching a surfing carnival. The victims were sheltering underneath a rock overhang at the base of the limestone cliff during a rain storm when the cliff collapsed without warning.[5][6] [7]
A rehabilitation project was commenced on the cliff tops overlooking the site where the tragedy occurred, following funding by the state government, in 1997. Stairways, a lookout shelters and fencing were built and vegetation replanted to stabilise the cliffs over Cowaramup Bay.[8]
[edit] Shark attacks
In 2004 a surfer, Bradley Smith, was attacked and killed by a great white shark at a beach close to town. The town was again struck by tragedy in 2010 when a 31 year old man died after being attacked by another great white shark at South Point, a beach close to town. The man was attacked while surfing and was found unconscious after being washed up on rocks near the beach with a huge gash on his leg. Passers by tried to resuscitate the man who did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead on arrival at Margaret River hospital.[9][10]
[edit] References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Gracetown (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC54016&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names". http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+country+town+names. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ^ "Cape to Cape Track - Track Facts". 2009. http://www.capetocapetrack.com.au/pages.asp?code=20. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ http://www.margaretriver.com/pages/surf-spots/
- ^ "Informit - The Rockfall of Huzzas Cliff, Gracetown, Western Australia". 2005. http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=736281266015277;res=IELENG. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ^ "ABC News - Gracetown cliff collapse claim before court". 2004. http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/wa/bunbury/200408/s1167146.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ^ Gordon, FR (1999), "The Rockfall of Huzzas Cliff, Gracetown, Western Australia", Proceedings 8th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics: Consolidating Knowledge (Australian Geomechanics Society): 599-606, ISBN 978-1-86445-002-6
- ^ "Department of Environment - Grant towards rehabilitating site of Gracetown tragedy". 1997. http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/1070/1560/. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ "ABC News - Surfer dies after shark attack". 2010. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/17/2985128.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ^ "ABC News - Huge shark kills surfer". 2010. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/7775136/huge-shark-kills-surfer/. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
[edit] External links
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