{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = other | name = Cape Hardy | state = sa | image = | caption = | coordinates = {{coord|34.1785|S|136.3205|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | lga = District Council of Tumby Bay | postcode = 5604 | pop = | pop_footnotes= | est = | elevation =20 | maxtemp = | mintemp = | rainfall = | stategov =Flinders | fedgov =Grey | near-n = Port Neill | near-w = Ungarra | near-nw = Mount Hill | near-e = ''Spencer Gulf'' | near-sw = Sheep Hill | near-s = Lipson Cove | near-se = ''Spencer Gulf'' | near-ne = ''Spencer Gulf'' | dist1 = 215 | dir1 = WNW | location1 = Adelaide }}

'''Cape Hardy''' is a {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} high, dune-capped granite headland on the eastern coast of Eyre Peninsula and which protrudes into Spencer Gulf in South Australia. It is located between the towns of Port Neill and Tumby Bay, {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} north-northeast of Lipson Cove.

==Geography and geology== The cape is generally barren of vegetation other than low scrub. To the north and south of the cape are a series of low headland-bound white sandy beaches, backed by low dunes and farmland. Public access is limited to the Cape Hardy track and there are currently no facilities present. The surrounding beaches tend to face east to southeast and usually receive low swell and wind waves less than {{convert|1|m|abbr=on}} high.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://beachsafe.org.au/beach/sa0673 |title=Cape Hardy |website=BeachSafe.org.au |accessdate=2014-01-01}}</ref>

== Early history == Cape Hardy is named after surveyor Alfred Hardy (1813–1870).<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Rodney Cockburn |last=Cockburn |first=Rodney |first2=Stewart |last2=Cockburn |title=What's in a name?: nomenclature of South Australia : authoritative derivations of some 4000 historically significant place names |location=Glen Osmond, South Australia |publisher=Ferguson Publications |year=1984 |isbn=095925191X}}</ref>

The first European to explore this coastline, in 1802, was the British navigator Matthew Flinders, but, although he named many features, he did not name this cape. Later in 1802 the French navigator Nicolas Baudin also sailed past, giving it the name ''Cap Portalis'', honouring the French jurist Jean-Étienne-Marie Portalis, but that name was not used.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/ |title=Property Location Browser V2 |publisher=Government of South Australia, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure |accessdate=2014-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012010923/http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/ |archive-date=12 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The first land-based exploration by Europeans was in April 1840, at which time the cape was named after Alfred Hardy, then being the aide-de-camp to Governor George Gawler. Gawler was leading an expedition along this coast accompanied by explorer John Hill and Deputy Surveyor General Thomas Burr. The vice-regal party was supported at sea by the brig ''Porter'' and the government cutter {{ship||Water Witch|1835 cutter|2}}, both under the command of Thomas Lipson.<ref>{{cite web |title=Early Days of Eyre Peninsula |first=J D |last=Somerville |date=1937 |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/96727657}}</ref>

==Pastoralism, farming, and fishing== In 1898, A. Poynton and William Tennant Mortlock, the members for the South Australian electorate of Flinders presented a petition to the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Hon. L. O'Loughlin) requesting the consideration of the establishment of a dog fence running west across Eyre Peninsula from Cape Hardy to Mount Misery. The petition was drafted in response to pastoralists' struggles to manage vermin in the Lower Eyre Peninsula region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87703323 |title=Advertising |work=Chronicle |date=1898-10-15 |accessdate=2014-01-10}}</ref>

In April 1932, a piece of flotsam believed to be a hatch-cover from the missing ketch ''Vivid'' was found near Cape Hardy by Captain E. S. Hipkins of the ketch ''Nelcebee''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129326294 |title=WOULD JOIN SEARCH – Ordeal of Ketch Master's Wife – STILL HOPES |work=News |date=1932-04-16 |accessdate=2014-01-10}}</ref> ''Vivid ''was last seen departing Tumby Bay on 9 April 1932.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4447515 |title=Missing Ketch. Drifting Timber Found. Crew May Be Alive |work=The Argus|location=Melbourne |date=1932-04-18 |accessdate=2014-01-10}}</ref> As of 2014, the ship's fate and that of its crew remain a mystery.

== Proposed export port == In December 2012, Cape Hardy was announced as the location for a prospective deep water port development. The port is planned to serve the export interests of mining company Iron Road and the development of the Central Eyre Iron Project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Housing,+property+and+land/Building+and+development/Building+and+development+applications/Major+development+applications+and+assessments/Major+development+proposals/Cape+Hardy+deep-sea+port |title=Cape Hardy deep-sea port |publisher=Government of South Australia, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure |accessdate=2014-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105084215/http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Housing%2C+property+and+land/Building+and+development/Building+and+development+applications/Major+development+applications+and+assessments/Major+development+proposals/Cape+Hardy+deep-sea+port |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It received Major Project Status from the Government of South Australia in August 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dmitre.sa.gov.au/article/view/1380 |title=Major Development status granted for Cape Hardy Deep Sea Port |date=2013-08-13 |publisher=Government of South Australia, DMITRE |accessdate=2014-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191533/http://www.dmitre.sa.gov.au/article/view/1380 |archive-date=2 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/iron-road-signs-agreements-for-sa-iron-ore-project |title=Iron Road signs agreements for SA iron ore project |work=Australian Mining |date=11 September 2015 |accessdate=5 December 2018}}</ref> In November 2015, Iron Road announced that an Environmental Impact Statement and Mining Lease application had been lodged with the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, which includes the port proposal.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/breaking-news/iron-road-submits-approval-applications/story-fni0xqe3-1227598855226|title = Iron Road submits approval applications|date = 2015-11-06|access-date = 2015-11-07|newspaper = The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney}}</ref>

As of 2018, the project has received environmental and planning approval but construction is yet to commence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eyretribune.com.au/story/5260948/push-for-cape-hardy-port/|title=Push for Cape Hardy port|date=2018-03-02|work=Eyre Peninsula Tribune|access-date=2018-03-21|language=en}}</ref> Iron Road remains committed to the project.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.portlincolntimes.com.au/story/5729881/no-for-iron-road-shift-on-eyre-port/|title=No for Iron Road shift on Eyre port|last=Delaney|first=Jarrad|date=2018-10-30|work=Port Lincoln Times|access-date=2018-11-01|language=en}}</ref>

=== Alternatives ===

Another prospective iron ore mining company, Centrex Metals, proposed to construct an alternative port known as Port Spencer. Its site was located 9&nbsp;km southwest of Cape Hardy, adjacent to Lipson Cove.<ref name=":0" /> That proposal was sunk in 2016,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/port-spencer-plan-sinks-as-sachinese-venture-winds-up/news-story/8fdca6b3f55504b1f28cedfb7299eafe |title=Port Spencer plan sinks as SA-Chinese venture winds up |first=Valerina |last=Changarathil |newspaper=The Advertiser|location=Adelaide|date=14 October 2016 |accessdate=20 June 2017}}</ref> with this site being sold in 2019 by Centrex Metals to Peninsula Ports, which intends to develop Port Spencer as a grain-only deep-water port.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portlincolntimes.com.au/story/6590466/progress-for-port-spencer/|title=Progress for Port Spencer|last=Mead|first=Gretel|date=2020-01-21|website=Port Lincoln Times|language=en|access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{Eyre Peninsula |state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cape Hardy}} Hardy Category:Eyre Peninsula Category:Spencer Gulf