Lion Island (New South Wales)
| Lion Island | |
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IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
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 Lion Island viewed from West Head |
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| Location | New South Wales |
| Nearest city | Gosford |
| Coordinates | 33°33′25″S 151°19′04″E / 33.556917°S 151.317701°ECoordinates: 33°33′25″S 151°19′04″E / 33.556917°S 151.317701°E |
| Area | 8 hectares (20 acres) |
| Established | 1956 |
| Governing body | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service |
Lion Island is located at the entrance to the Hawkesbury River inside Broken Bay and is considered part of the Gosford local government area.[1] It is a descriptive name because it resembles a Sphinx, a mythical figure of a crouching lion.[2]
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[edit] Original Name
The island was originally named Mount Elliott Island by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1789, because it resembled Gibraltar where his friend, General Elliott, had inflicted defeats on French and Spanish fleets.[3] This name continued to be used by cartographers until the 1920s.[4]
[edit] Nature Reserve Status
In 1956, the Lion Island Fauna Reserve was established on the island. In 1977, it was reclassified as the Lion Island Nature Reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1967 and is administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of New South Wales.[5] The nature reserve covers all of the island, an area of approximately 8 hectares.[6]
Due to the island's significant biodiversity it was added to the Australian National Heritage List in December 2006.[7]
The island contains the largest population of little penguins Eudyptula minor in the Sydney area,[1] is a breeding habitat for shearwaters[1][8] and is free of feral cats and foxes.[2]
The island has a weed infestation problem that includes Bitou Bush and Lantana.[1]
[edit] Geography
The cap at the Eastern end of Lion Island is composed of Hawkesbury Sandstone. The shores of the island are composed of the older Narrabeen Group of sandstones and shales.[1]
[edit] Access Restrictions
Public access to the island is by permit, provided by the National Parks and Wildlife Service Regional Manager, and is restricted to conservation, education and research purposes.[9]
No recreational facilities are provided on the island.[10]
[edit] Media
In 2005, a documentary film claimed erroneously that the wreckage of a Japanese midget submarine, which disappeared after the attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942, was buried under sand on the seabed, just east of Lion Island.[11][12] The wreck has since been located near Bungan Head.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Lion Island, Long Island and Spectacle Island Nature Reserves Plan of Management, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, May 2002.
- ^ a b Lion Island sign board at West Head Lookout
- ^ Pratt, Eileen (1978) Place Names of the Central Coast. Brisbane Water Historical Society and The Entrance and District Society. p29
- ^ National Library of Australia nla.map-rm3117-s1-e
- ^ NSW Geographical Names Board Official website
- ^ NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, "KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK & LION ISLAND, LONG ISLAND & SPECTACLE ISLAND NATURE RESERVES PLAN OF MANAGEMENT", published May 2002, page 9 Official website
- ^ Australian National Heritage listing for Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Lion Island, Long Island and Spectacle Island Nature Reserves
- ^ "Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Lion, Long and Spectacle Island Nature Reserves, Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd, Bobbin Head, NSW (entry AHD105817)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105817.
- ^ "KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK & LION ISLAND, LONG ISLAND & SPECTACLE ISLAND NATURE RESERVES PLAN OF MANAGEMENT", published May 2002, page 37 Official website
- ^ NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, "KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK & LION ISLAND, LONG ISLAND & SPECTACLE ISLAND NATURE RESERVES PLAN OF MANAGEMENT", published May 2002, page 37 Official website
- ^ Steve Meacham, Down to the wire ... solving a 60-year mystery, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 November 2005
- ^ Investigation fails to find midget sub, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19 December 2005. 5:34pm (AEDT)
- ^ M24 Japanese Midget Submarine wreck site, State Heritage Inventory Search, New South Wales Heritage Office (Accessed 2007-08-16)
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