# Beatrice Islets

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Pair of islets in South Australia

This article is about the islets in South Australia. For the associated conservation park, see [Beatrice Islet Conservation Park](/source/Beatrice_Islet_Conservation_Park).

Beatrice Islets Beatrice Islets Geography Location Nepean Bay Coordinates 35°38′26″S 137°40′55″E / 35.64057°S 137.68208°E / -35.64057; 137.68208 Area 10 ha (25 acres)[1] Highest elevation 0 m (0 ft)[1] Administration Australia Demographics Population 0

**Beatrice Islets** are pair of [islets](/source/Islet) in the [Australian state](/source/Australia) of [South Australia](/source/South_Australia) located in [Nepean Bay](/source/Nepean_Bay) on the north coast of [Kangaroo Island](/source/Kangaroo_Island) about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) east of [Kingscote](/source/Kingscote%2C_South_Australia). The islets and adjoining [intertidal](/source/Intertidal) areas are notable as habitat for bird life. The islet pair has enjoyed [protected area](/source/Protected_area) status since 1909 and since at least 1972, have been part of the [Beatrice Islet Conservation Park](/source/Beatrice_Islet_Conservation_Park). During either the 1960s or the 1970s, the islets were extensively damaged by an exercise to remove an infestation of [South African boxthorn](/source/Lycium_ferocissimum).

## Description

Beatrice Islets are pair of islets located in Nepean Bay about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) east of [Kingscote](/source/Kingscote%2C_South_Australia) on Kangaroo Island in South Australia.[2][3] The Beatrice Islets along with Busby Islet are three high points on the southern edge of a [spit](/source/Spit_(landform)) that is exposed at low water. The spit which is named ‘The Spit’ extends from Cape Rouge about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) north of Kingscote in a south easterly direction across the opening of the [Bay of Shoals](/source/Bay_of_Shoals) for a distance of about 5 nautical miles (9.3 kilometres; 5.8 miles). The islets which are separated by a distance of about 1.25 kilometres (0.78 miles), have a north-south alignment.[2][4] The islets historically consisted of sand dunes that were permanently above high water. However, an exercise to remove South African boxthorn, an introduced species considered to an infestation risk, which occurred either during the 1960s or the 1970s and which resulted in the islets becoming ‘susceptible to erosion, and tides and rough weather’ thereby reducing the ‘once stable vegetated islets to bare, wave-washed sand spits’. Subsequent attempts to stabilise the islets and encourage the deposition of sand were unsuccessful.[2][3][5][6] As of 1987, the islets were reported as existing "only as a mudflat and cocklebed which emerges above the sea at low tide."[5]

## Formation, geology and oceanography

The conditions for the creation of The Spit and therefore Beatrice Islets and Busby Islet became possible about 7500 years ago when sea levels reached current levels.[7] The islets are composed of sand and sand grit.[1] The islets is part of a drying spit at low water which falls to a depth of 5 m (16 ft) within about 0.6–1.25 km (0.37–0.78 mi) to the west.[2]

## Flora and fauna

### Flora

As of 1987 and again in 1996, the Beatrice Islets were reported as having no vegetation as a result of an exercise to remove the infestation of [South African boxthorn](/source/Lycium_ferocissimum).[5][6]

### Fauna

While sources dated 1987 and 1996 do not explicitly list fauna for Beatrice Islets, it is likely that fauna species which are exclusively birds reported as being present on The Spit and Busby Island such as the following will be observed on the Beatrice Islets: [white-bellied sea-eagle](/source/White-bellied_sea_eagle), [eastern curlew](/source/Far_Eastern_curlew), [fairy tern](/source/Fairy_tern), [little egret](/source/Little_egret), [pied cormorant](/source/Australian_pied_cormorant), [little pied cormorant](/source/Little_pied_cormorant), [black-faced cormorant](/source/Black-faced_cormorant), [Australian pelican](/source/Australian_pelican), [Australian white ibis](/source/Australian_white_ibis), [grey plover](/source/Grey_plover), [greater sand plover](/source/Greater_sand_plover), whimbrel, [grey-tailed tattler](/source/Grey-tailed_tattler), [bar-tailed godwit](/source/Bar-tailed_godwit), [red knot](/source/Red_knot), [red-necked stint](/source/Red-necked_stint), [red-capped plover](/source/Red-capped_plover), [sooty oystercatcher](/source/Sooty_oystercatcher), [pied oystercatcher](/source/Pied_oystercatcher), [curlew sandpiper](/source/Curlew_sandpiper), [sharp-tailed sandpiper](/source/Sharp-tailed_sandpiper) and [ruddy turnstone](/source/Ruddy_turnstone).[1][5][6]

## History

### European discovery and use

Beatrice Islets are reported as probably being named after [HMS *Beatrice*](/source/HMS_Beatrice_(1860)), a schooner which conducted coastal survey operations in South Australia during the 1870s.[8] Beatrice Islets are one of the island sites from which [guano](/source/Guano) was mined under licence from the [South Australian Government](/source/Government_of_South_Australia) prior to 1919.[9]

## Protected areas status

Further information: [Beatrice Islet Conservation Park](/source/Beatrice_Islet_Conservation_Park)

The Beatrice Islets first received [protected area](/source/Protected_area) status on 13 May 1909 under the *Birds Protection Act 1900*. The islets were subsequently proclaimed as a fauna reserve under the *Fauna Conservation Act 1964*, dedicated again in 1967 ‘for the conservation of wildlife habitat’ and then as a conservation park under the *[National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972](/source/National_Parks_and_Wildlife_Act_1972)* in 1972.[5][10][11] As of 2012, the waters adjoining the islets are within the Encounter Marine Park.[12] Beatrice Islets is also part of a larger area that includes the extent of The Spit within Nepean Bay including Busby Islet and which was included in a non-statutory listing of nationally important wetlands located in South Australia as part of *[A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia](/source/A_Directory_of_Important_Wetlands_in_Australia)*.[1][13]

## See also

- [List of islands of Australia](/source/List_of_islands_of_Australia)

## Citations and references

### Citations

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CoA1995_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CoA1995_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CoA1995_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-CoA1995_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-CoA1995_1-4) C of A, 1995

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DMH_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DMH_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DMH_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-DMH_2-3) DMH, 1985, Charts 11 & 12

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BIA_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BIA_3-1) BIA, 2005, page 185

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Sailing Directions (Enroute),*Pub. 175:*North, West, and South Coasts of Australia*](https://msi.nga.mil/api/publications/download?key=16694491/SFH00000/Pub175bk.pdf&type=view) (PDF). *[Sailing Directions](/source/Sailing_Directions)*. [United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency](/source/National_Geospatial-Intelligence_Agency). 2017. p. 216.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NPWSpage25_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NPWSpage25_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NPWSpage25_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NPWSpage25_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-NPWSpage25_5-4) NPWS, 1987, page 25

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Robinson301_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Robinson301_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Robinson301_6-2) Robinson et al, 1996, page 301

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Robinson & Armstrong, 1999, page 26

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Robinson302_8-0)** Robinson et al, 1996, page 302

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Robinson et al, 1996, page 134

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Robinson et al, 1996, pages 138, 140 & 147

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FCR-1967_11-0)** ["CROWN LANDS ACT, 1929-1966: FAUNA CONSERVATION RESERVES DEDICATED"](http://www8.austlii.edu.au/au/other/sa_gazette/1967/11.pdf) (PDF). *THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE*. Government of South Australia. 16 March 1967. pp. 961–962. Retrieved 5 February 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** DEWNR, 2012, page 2 of 6

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Eyles et al, 2001, page 77

### References

- Boating Industry Association of South Australia (BIA); South Australia. Department for Environment and Heritage (2005), *South Australia's waters an atlas & guide*, Boating Industry Association of South Australia, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-86254-680-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-86254-680-6)

- South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors (DMH) (1985), *The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs*, Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7243-7603-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7243-7603-2)

- National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) (1987). [*Conservation Parks of Kangaroo Island Management Plan*](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/e41e4e27-da1d-4a81-970a-9e4f00b185f9/PARKS_PDFS_CP_OF_KI_MP.pdf) (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment and Planning, South Australia. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7243-8983-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7243-8983-0). Retrieved 23 December 2014.

- A.C. Robinson; P. Canty; T. Mooney; P. Rudduck (1996). ["South Australia's offshore islands"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf) (PDF). Australian Heritage Commission. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-644-35011-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-644-35011-2). Retrieved 13 December 2013.

- Robinson, A. C.; Armstrong, D. M., eds. (1999). [*A biological survey of Kangaroo Island South Australia in November 1989 and 1990*](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/fb13b9bf-5c8e-445c-9c3c-a1c600c14815/ki-biological-survey-climate-geology-landuse-gen.pdf) (PDF). Adelaide, SA: Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7308-5862-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7308-5862-1). Retrieved 1 May 2014.

- ["Australian Wetlands Database - Directory Wetland Information Sheet: Busby and Beatrice Islets - SA023"](http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands/report.pl). Commonwealth of Australia (C of A), Department of the Environment. 1995. Retrieved 24 December 2014.

- Eyles, Kathy; Larmour, Geoff; Young, Sarah; Australia. Environment Australia; Natural Heritage Trust (Australia). National Wetlands Program (2001), [*A Directory of important wetlands in Australia*](http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/18f0bb21-b67c-4e99-a155-cb5255398568/files/directory.pdf) (PDF) (3rd ed.), Environment Australia, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-642-54721-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-642-54721-7)

- ["Encounter Marine Park Management plan summary"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/a27fabf3-c4fc-4b93-85b4-a11f00f2f772/mp-gen-mgmtplansumm-15-encounter.pdf) (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR). 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

v t e Kangaroo Island Major townships American River Kingscote Parndana Penneshaw Beaches American Beach Baudin Beach Brown Beach D'Estrees Bay Emu Bay Island Beach Nepean Bay Vivonne Bay Coastal features Western end of island Cape Borda Cape du Couedic Cape Gantheaume D'Estrees Bay Fides Bluff Maupertuis Bay Nepean Bay Pelican Lagoon Point Marsden Ravine des Casoars Stokes Bay Vivonne Bay Dudley Peninsula Cape St Albans Cape Willoughby Kangaroo Head Moncrieff Bay Pink Bay Protected areas National parks Flinders Chase Conservation parks Baudin Beatrice Islet Beyeria Busby Islet Cape Gantheaume Cape Willoughby Cygnet Estuary Dudley Kelly Hill Lashmar Lathami Lesueur Mount Taylor Nepean Bay Parndana Pelican Lagoon Seal Bay Seddon Simpson Vivonne Bay Marine parks Encounter Western Kangaroo Island Southern Kangaroo Island Wilderness Protection Areas Cape Bouguer Cape Gantheaume Cape Torrens Ravine des Casoars Western River Islands adjacent to Kangaroo Island coast Beatrice Islets Busby Islet Casuarina Islets Douglas Rock Nobby Islet Paisley Islet Pelican Lagoon Islets Pelorus Islet Related and uncategorised 2007 Kangaroo Island bushfires County of Carnarvon Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island Hundred of Dudley Kangaroo Island Council Kangaroo Island wine region Kingscote Airport Middle River Reservoir Category Commons

v t e Islands of South Australia West coast of Eyre Peninsula Generally Avoid Bay Islands Black Rocks Sudden Jerk Baird Bay Jones Unnamed Cap Eba Germein Greenly Liguanea Neptune Islands Nicolas Baudin Nuyts Reef Olive Pigface Price Purdie Rocky Island (north) Rocky Island (south) Sinclair Curta Rocks Whidbey Isles Four Hummocks Perforated Price Island Golden Williams Investigator Group Flinders Pearson Isles Pearson Dorothee Veteran Isles Topgallant Waldegrave Islands Ward Islands Nuyts Archipelago Blefescu Breakwater Evans Eyre Franklin Gliddon Reef Goat Isles of St Francis Dog Egg Fenelon Freeling Hart Masillon Smooth St Francis West Lacy Lounds Lilliput Purdie Islands St Peter Spencer Gulf Generally Bicker Isles Bird Boston Curlew Entrance Gambier Islands Wedge Grantham Goose Green Lipson Louth Rabbit Shag Tumby Wardang Weeroona Jussieu Peninsula coastline Carcase Rock Donington Grindall Hopkins Lewis Little Owen Smith Taylor Thistle Sir Joseph Banks Group Blyth Boucaut Dalby Dangerous Reef Duffield English Hareby Kirkby Langton Lusby Marum Partney Reevesby Roxby Seal Rock Sibsey Spilsby Stickney Winceby Pondalowie Bay Royston Middle South Investigator Strait Althorpe Islands Althorpe Haystack Seal Chinamans Hat Kangaroo Island Main article Kangaroo Island Nepean Bay Beatrice Islets Busby Islet Pelican Lagoon Islets West and south coasts Casuarina Islets Douglas Rock Lipson Reef Nobby Islet North Rock Paisley Islet Pelorus Islet South West Rock Unnamed island (Hanson Bay) Young Rock Gulf St Vincent Garden Torrens Troubridge Backstairs Passage The Pages Encounter Bay and adjoining waters Granite Pullen Seal West Wright South east coast Baudin Rocks Penguin Mainland Artificial islands Delfin Murray River List of Murray River islands Hindmarsh Pomanda Category Commons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Beatrice Islets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrice_Islets) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrice_Islets?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.