Baird Bay

__NOTOC__ {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2011}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Baird Bay | state = sa | image = 09 Baird Bay 06.JPG | caption = The isolated waters of Baird Bay | coordinates = {{coord|33.147468|S|134.363165|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coord_ref = <ref name="LMV">{{cite web|title=Search results for 'Baird Bay, LOCB' with the following datasets being selected – 'NPW and Conservation Properties'. 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Counties', 'Government Towns', 'Local Government Areas','Postcodes', 'SA Government Regions', 'Gazetteer' and 'Roads' |url= http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=roads&x=134.36385&y=-33.10401&z=12&uids=41,19,2,115,11,18,20,105,136&pinx=134.363170&piny=-33.147470&pinTitle=Location&pinText=Baird+Bay,+Locb |website=Location SA Map Viewer|publisher=Government of South Australia|accessdate=6 June 2018}}</ref> | pop = | pop_year = | pop_footnotes = | established = 12 April 2001 | established_footnotes = <ref name="SAGG-2001">{{cite web|last1=Lawson|first1=Robert|title=GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ACT 1991 Notice to Assign Names and Boundaries to Places (in the District Council of Streaky Bay) |url=http://governmentgazette.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/public/documents/gazette/2001/April/2001_041.pdf|website=The South Australian Government Gazette|publisher=South Australian Government|accessdate=29 May 2018|page=1587|date=12 April 2001}}</ref> | postcode = 5671 | elevation = 1 | elevation_footnotes = {{citation needed|date=June 2018}} | area = | area_footnotes = | timezone = [[UTC9:30|ACST]] | utc = +9:30 | timezone-dst = [[UTC10:30|ACST]] | utc-dst = +10:30

| dist1 = | dir1 = | location1 = | dist2 = 50 | dir2 = South West | location2= [[Streaky Bay, South Australia|Streaky Bay]] |county = [[County of Robinson|Robinson]]<ref name="LMV"/> |region=[[Eyre Western]]<ref name="LMV"/> | lga = [[District Council of Streaky Bay]]<ref name="LMV"/> | stategov = [[Electoral district of Flinders|Flinders]]<ref name=ECSA>{{cite web|title=District of Flinders|url= https://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/electoral-districts/electoral-district-profiles?view=article&id=827:flinders |publisher=Electoral Commission SA |accessdate=29 May 2018}}</ref> | fedgov = [[Division of Grey|Grey]]<ref name=AEC>{{cite web|title=Federal electoral division of Grey|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/sa/grey.htm |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|accessdate=29 May 2018}}</ref> | maxtemp = 23.1 | maxtemp_footnotes = <ref name=climate>{{cite web|title=Monthly climate statistics: Summary statistics STREAKY BAY (nearest weather station) |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_018079.shtml |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia, Bureau of Meteorology|accessdate=29 May 2018}}</ref> | mintemp = 12.2 | mintemp_footnotes = <ref name=climate/> | rainfall = 378.0 | rainfall_footnotes =<ref name=climate/> | near-n = [[Calca, South Australia|Calca]] | near-ne = [[Tyringa, South Australia|Tyringa]] | near-e = [[Tyringa, South Australia|Tyringa]] <br/>''[[Anxious Bay]]'' | near-se = ''[[Anxious Bay]]'' | near-s = ''[[Anxious Bay]]'' | near-sw = ''Baird Bay (body of water)'' | near-w = ''Baird Bay (body of water)'' | near-nw = ''Baird Bay (body of water)'' | near = Baird Bay | footnotes = Adjoining localities<ref name="LMV"/> }} '''Baird Bay''' is a small [[fishing village]] located {{convert|50|km|abbr=off}} south of [[Streaky Bay, South Australia|Streaky Bay]] on the west coast of [[Eyre Peninsula]] in [[South Australia]]. It is situated on the east coast of a bay named Baird Bay which opens into the north end of [[Anxious Bay]].<ref>{{Citation | author1=South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors (DMH)| title=The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs | publication-date=1985 | publisher=Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia |isbn=978-0-7243-7603-2|page=chart 39}}</ref>

== Nomenclature == The locality is named after the nearby bay which was named after James Baird, who settled on the shores of Anxious Bay in 1850 before being speared by local Aboriginals on 2 November 1850. The bay was known as ''Beard's Bay'' until 5 December 1940 when it was renamed to ''Baird Bay'' by proclamation.<ref name="LMV" /><ref name="manning">{{Cite web |url=http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/digitalpubs/placenamesofsouthaustralia/B.pdf |work=Manning Index of South Australian History |title=South Australian Names - B |first=Geoffrey |last=Manning |author-link=Geoffrey Manning |publisher=State Library of South Australia |accessdate=20 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="SAGG-1940">{{cite web |last1=Rudall |first1=R.J. |title=ALTERATION OF NAMES OF TOWNS. |url=http://www8.austlii.edu.au/au/other/sa_gazette/1940/50/1286.pdf |website=The South Australian Government Gazette |publisher=South Australian Government |accessdate=6 June 2018 |page=1286 |date=5 December 1940 |quote=(the list also includes an island and a railway station as well as a bay called Baird Bay)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1908-11-25|title=An Interesting South Australian Book.|work=Gadfly|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202115468|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref>

== Ecotourism == Although the [[township]] is small, Baird Bay has become a [[tourist]] attraction due to its [[Australian sea lion]] colony. Local [[tour guides]] take small groups of tourists for interactive [[human swimming|swimming]] sessions with the sea lions and [[Bottlenose dolphin]]s.<ref name="Hutchison 18–30">{{Cite journal|last=Hutchison|first=Stuart|date=2001-12-01|title=Travellin' South|journal=Australasia Scuba Diver|pages=18–30}}</ref> It is regarded as one of the best dive or snorkeling destinations in South Australia.<ref name="Hutchison 18–30"/> The remote waters of Baird Bay are also popular for [[recreational fishing]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Great fishing and friendly campers - Baird Bay, South Australia Traveller Reviews|url=http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g255092-d582300-r363773569-Baird_Bay-South_Australia.html|access-date=2021-12-20|website=Tripadvisor|language=en-AU}}</ref>

The isolated town has very limited facilities, with only a few houses, a camping ground and boat ramp. The nearest town for supplies is Streaky Bay, {{convert|51|km|abbr=off}} north.

The [[2021 Australian census]] which was conducted in August 2021 reported that Baird Bay had a population of 5 people.<ref name= Census2016>{{Census 2021 AUS|id= SAL40059 |name= Baird Bay|accessdate=14 October 2024|quick=on}}</ref>

Baird Bay is located within the federal [[division of Grey]], the state [[electoral district of Flinders]] and the local government area of the [[District Council of Streaky Bay]].<ref name=AEC/><ref name=ECSA/><ref name="LMV"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://streakybay.com.au/about-streaky-bay/district-towns-communities/baird-bay/ Baird Bay webpage on Streaky Bay (LGA) Official Tourism Website]

[[Category:Coastal towns in South Australia]] [[Category:Eyre Peninsula]] [[Category:Bays of South Australia]] [[Category:Fishing communities in Australia]]