{{Short description|Cape on coast of Western Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}} {{Infobox landform | water = | name = Cape Sorrell | other_name = | type = [[Cape (geography)|Cape]] | image = Macquarie Harbour SE.jpg | caption = False colour Landsat image showing Macquarie Harbour with Cape Sorell in the centre right area of the picture. | pushpin_map = Australia Tasmania | map_caption = Location in [[Tasmania]] | elevation_m = | elevation_ref = | location = [[West Coast, Tasmania|West Coast]], [[Tasmania]], Australia | range = | coordinates = {{coord|42|11|24|S|145|09|36|E|type:landmark_region:AU-TAS|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | length = | width = | area = <!-- {{Convert|NN|ha|acres}} --> | topo = | age = | volcanic_arc/belt = | last_eruption = | operator = | designation = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }}
'''Cape Sorell''' is a [[headland]] located in the [[Southern Ocean]] outside [[Macquarie Harbour]] on the [[West Coast, Tasmania|West Coast]] of [[Tasmania]], Australia. The cape and the [[Cape Sorell Lighthouse]], located above the headland, are important orientation points for all vessels entering the Macquarie Heads and then through [[Hell's Gates (Tasmania)|Hells Gates]] at the entrance to the harbour.
Cape Sorrell is named in honour of [[William Sorell]], [[Governor_of_Tasmania#Lieutenant-Governor_and_Commandants_in_the_south|Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania]] from 1817 to 1824.
It is a regularly cited feature of the west coast of Tasmania - for many systems as an indicator the northernmost point of the region [[South West Tasmania]].<ref>{{Citation | author1=Hills, Loftus | author2=Tasmania. Department of Mines | title=Geological reconnaissance of the country between Cape Sorell and Point Hibbs | publication-date=1914 | publisher=Dept. of Mines | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18006104 | accessdate=13 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Prince, Brian | author2=Tasmania. Dept. of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage | author3=Australian Heritage Commission | title=Aboriginal archaeological sites on the West Coast of Tasmania : port Davey to Cape Sorell : a report to the Tasmanian Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage | publication-date=1992 | publisher=Dept. of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6390535 | accessdate=13 February 2018 }}</ref>
==Lighthouse== Constructed in 1899 during the rise of the West Coast mining boom, the [[Cape Sorell Lighthouse]] is a heritage-listed lighthouse located on Cape Sorell. The lighthouse is located approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) southwest of [[Strahan, Tasmania|Strahan]].
== Macquarie Heads breakwater railway == Between 1900 and 1946 a horse drawn wooden rail [[Macquarie Heads breakwater railway|tramline]] was used to provide access between the Cape Sorell headland and the Cape Sorell Lighthouse and the jetty and wharf locations. It was used to move rock from quarries for the construction and maintenance of the Macquarie Heads breakwater.
== Waverider Buoy== The [[Cape Sorell Waverider Buoy]], also known as ''Captain Fathom'' as named by the listeners of [[ABC Radio (Australia)|ABC Radio, Tasmania]] during the May 2015 to mark the centenary of the [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]],<ref name=bom>{{cite web |title=Cape Sorell Waverider Buoy Observations |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT65015.shtml |work=[[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]] |publisher=Australian Government |accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref> is a [[Swell (ocean)|swell]]-measuring buoy located west of Cape Sorell some {{convert|10|km}} west of [[Ocean Beach, Tasmania|Ocean Beach]] ({{coord|42|12|S|145|03|E|type:landmark_region:AU-TAS}}).<ref name=bom/><ref>{{cite web |title=Cape Sorell Waverider Buoy Observations |format=Chart |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT65014.shtml |work=[[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]] |publisher=Australian Government |accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref>
== Geography == === Climate === Cape Sorell experiences an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen:]] ''Cfb'') with mild, drier summers and cool, drizzly winters.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/averages/climate-classification/?maptype=kpn |title = Climate classification maps: Köppen - all classes |publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] |access-date = January 24, 2026}}</ref> All months have recorded a maximum [[wind gust]] exceeding {{convert|100|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}. On average, Larapuna only has 36.4 clear days whilst having 198.0 cloudy days per annum. The wettest recorded day was 24 June 1996 with {{convert|78.0|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall. Extreme temperatures ranged from {{convert|33.5|C}} on 3 February 2025 to {{convert|1.4|C}} on 15 July 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=97000 |title = Cape Sorell Climate (1899-2025) |website = FarmOnline Weather |publisher = [[Australian Community Media]] |access-date = January 25, 2026}}</ref>
{{Weather box |location = Cape Sorell ({{coord|42.20|S|145.17|E}}) ({{convert|19|m|ft|abbr=on}} AMSL) (1899-2025) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 32.5 |Feb record high C = 33.5 |Mar record high C = 32.5 |Apr record high C = 23.5 |May record high C = 20.4 |Jun record high C = 18.1 |Jul record high C = 17.7 |Aug record high C = 18.6 |Sep record high C = 21.2 |Oct record high C = 26.1 |Nov record high C = 29.4 |Dec record high C = 30.3 |Jan high C = 18.5 |Feb high C = 18.8 |Mar high C = 17.8 |Apr high C = 15.7 |May high C = 13.8 |Jun high C = 12.4 |Jul high C = 11.9 |Aug high C = 12.3 |Sep high C = 13.3 |Oct high C = 14.6 |Nov high C = 15.7 |Dec high C = 17.2 |Jan low C = 12.0 |Feb low C = 12.3 |Mar low C = 11.7 |Apr low C = 10.4 |May low C = 9.2 |Jun low C = 7.7 |Jul low C = 7.2 |Aug low C = 7.4 |Sep low C = 8.0 |Oct low C = 8.7 |Nov low C = 9.7 |Dec low C = 11.0 |Jan record low C = 6.1 |Feb record low C = 5.1 |Mar record low C = 6.1 |Apr record low C = 3.9 |May record low C = 1.7 |Jun record low C = 1.7 |Jul record low C = 1.4 |Aug record low C = 1.6 |Sep record low C = 2.3 |Oct record low C = 2.2 |Nov record low C = 4.5 |Dec record low C = 5.2 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 66.4 |Feb precipitation mm = 64.9 |Mar precipitation mm = 81.7 |Apr precipitation mm = 105.0 |May precipitation mm = 128.9 |Jun precipitation mm = 138.8 |Jul precipitation mm = 152.7 |Aug precipitation mm = 147.9 |Sep precipitation mm = 118.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 105.4 |Nov precipitation mm = 86.5 |Dec precipitation mm = 79.4 |year precipitation mm = 1274.1 |unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm |Jan precipitation days = 14.8 |Feb precipitation days = 13.4 |Mar precipitation days = 17.0 |Apr precipitation days = 19.6 |May precipitation days = 22.4 |Jun precipitation days = 21.6 |Jul precipitation days = 23.4 |Aug precipitation days = 23.9 |Sep precipitation days = 22.0 |Oct precipitation days = 21.3 |Nov precipitation days = 18.5 |Dec precipitation days = 17.4 |Jan afthumidity = 76 |Feb afthumidity = 78 |Mar afthumidity = 78 |Apr afthumidity = 81 |May afthumidity = 83 |Jun afthumidity = 82 |Jul afthumidity = 82 |Aug afthumidity = 80 |Sep afthumidity = 79 |Oct afthumidity = 78 |Nov afthumidity = 78 |Dec afthumidity = 77 |Jan dew point C = 13.4 |Feb dew point C = 13.6 |Mar dew point C = 12.7 |Apr dew point C = 11.6 |May dew point C = 10.0 |Jun dew point C = 9.2 |Jul dew point C = 8.5 |Aug dew point C = 8.7 |Sep dew point C = 9.1 |Oct dew point C = 10.0 |Nov dew point C = 11.0 |Dec dew point C = 12.6 |source = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] (1899-2025)<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_097000_All.shtml |title = Cape Sorell Climate Statistics (1899-2025) |publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] |access-date = January 25, 2026}} </ref> }}
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Environment}}}} * [[Geography of Tasmania]]
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links == * [http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_097000.shtml Cape Sorell climate history]
{{Western Tasmania |state=autocollapse}}
[[Category:Cape Sorell| ]] [[Category:Western Tasmania]] [[Category:Headlands of Tasmania|Sorell]]