Lancelin, Western Australia

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Lancelin | state = wa | image = Indian Ocean at Lancelin.JPG | caption = View of the Indian Ocean, south of the Lancelin pier. | lga = Shire of Gingin | local_map = yes | zoom = 11 | coordinates = {{coord|31.014|S|115.33|E|display=inline,title}} | postcode = 6044 | est = | pop =  | area = {{wikidata|property|raw|P2046}} | elevation= 6 | maxtemp = | mintemp = | rainfall = | stategov = Moore | fedgov = Pearce | dist1 = 115 | dir1 = NNW | location1= Perth | dist2 = 77 | dir2 = SW | location2= Moora | dist3 = 84 | dir3 = S | location3= Jurien Bay }} '''Lancelin''' is a small fishing and tourist town {{convert|127|km}} north of Perth, Western Australia. It is within the Shire of Gingin at the end of Lancelin Road, and a few kilometres away from the scenic highway Indian Ocean Drive (State Route 60).

Lancelin is close to the shipwreck site of {{ship||Vergulde Draeck||2}} ({{lit |Gilt Dragon}}) that was wrecked on rocks close to shore in 1656.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lifeonperth.com/lancelin.htm|title=Life on Perth - Lancelin coastline|year=2008|access-date=2008-09-20|archive-date=14 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914164508/http://www.lifeonperth.com/lancelin.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The town has a permanent population of over 600, and swells to 2,500 during the peak holiday period around Christmas and New Year.

==History== The town's name originates from nearby Lancelin Island which was named after {{thinspace|P.|J.}} Lancelin, the scientific writer of Nicolas Baudin during his 1801 expedition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celebratewa.com.au/files/generic_sidebar/50F&T2.pdf|title=50 Western Australian Facts and Trivia|year=2008|access-date=2008-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721020814/http://www.celebratewa.com.au/files/generic_sidebar/50F%26T2.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The area was initially a holiday camping place through the 1940s and holiday shacks were probably built in the area during this time, but interest in the area grew as it was designated as a possible port to be utilised by the crayfish or lobster fishery. One such vessel used at Lancelin was {{ship||Trixen||2}} in the 1960s, now preserved in the Western Australian Maritime Museum.

Lancelin was gazetted in 1950 and was originally named {{lang |nys |Wangaree}}, the Aboriginal word for 'fish'. The area was renamed in 1953 after a request from the Gingin Road Board.<ref>{{LandInfo WA|c|L|2008-09-20}}</ref>{{full citation needed |date=April 2025}}

Two sounding rockets were launched from Lancelin for solar research during the solar eclipse of June 20, 1974.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090108031903/http://astronautix.com/sites/lancelin.htm Lancelin], Encyclopedia Astronautica</ref>

The Australian military has used the Lancelin Defence Training Area to the north of the town for training exercises since the 1940s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lancelin Training Area|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/id/_Master/docs/NCRP/WA/0085LancelinTrainingAreaWA.pdf|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lancelin Defence Training Area|url=https://nautilus.org/publications/books/australian-forces-abroad/defence-facilities/lancelin-defence-training-area/|website=Australian Defence Facilities|date=22 April 2012|publisher=Nautilus Institute|access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref>

==Recreational== Two islands are located just off the coast in the bay; Edwards Island and Lancelin Island.

Lancelin Island Nature Reserve, {{convert|500|m}} offshore, is managed for the conservation of flora and fauna. The island is an important sanctuary for a variety of breeding seabirds, for several resident landbirds and lizards and for resting sea lions. A variety of marine, wading and land birds may be observed. You can go to this island by boat and it is a popular summer trip. There is a walkway along the island that visitors can walk on to see the wildlife.

Edwards island is prohibited to travel to since it is a high class nature reserve.

Kitesurfing and windsurfing are popular in the ocean off Lancelin. Sandboarding and riding on a dune buggy, motorbike or four-wheel drive are popular on the beaches and on the dunes behind the town.

Every March the annual colour blast event is held on the beach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/offbeat/rainbow-explosion-at-lancelin-beach-for-colour-blast-ng-b88405716z|title=Rainbow explosion at Lancelin Beach for Colour Blast|date=4 March 2017}}</ref>

The Lancelin District Community Association is the holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest off-road convoy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/99623-largest-convoy-of-off-road-vehicles|title = Largest convoy of off-road vehicles}}</ref>{{full citation needed |date=April 2025}}

==Erosion== As of 2025, many of the town's businesses and houses are at risk due to coastal erosion, with much of the townsite located in close proximity to the coastline.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fears king tide could inundate WA's Lancelin as council sounds alarm on coastal erosion|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-12/lancelin-king-tide-flood-fear-wa-town-coastal/105494586|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=12 July 2025| first1=Piper|last1=Duffy| first2=Chloe|last2=Henville}}</ref> An estimated 25 meters of town side beach was lost between 2020 and 2025 due to erosion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beloved WA town’s erosion emergency laid bare in confronting images|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/beloved-wa-town-s-erosion-emergency-laid-bare-in-confronting-images-20250512-p5lyhx.html|work=WAtoday|date=13 May 2025| first=Emma|last=Young}}</ref>

==Climate== Lancelin has a hot-summer mediterranean climate that is consistently warm throughout the year, resembling a typical subtropical climate but with a dry summer.

<div style="width:91%;"> {{Weather box |location = Lancelin |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 46.0 |Feb record high C = 45.3 |Mar record high C = 43.6 |Apr record high C = 37.5 |May record high C = 32.0 |Jun record high C = 29.4 |Jul record high C = 27.7 |Aug record high C = 31.0 |Sep record high C = 34.1 |Oct record high C = 39.0 |Nov record high C = 40.7 |Dec record high C = 43.2 |year record high C = 46.0 |Jan high C = 29.1 |Feb high C = 29.8 |Mar high C = 28.5 |Apr high C = 25.6 |May high C = 22.8 |Jun high C = 20.3 |Jul high C = 19.3 |Aug high C = 19.4 |Sep high C = 20.5 |Oct high C = 22.6 |Nov high C = 24.9 |Dec high C = 27.4 |year high C = 24.2 |Jan low C = 17.6 |Feb low C = 18.1 |Mar low C = 16.8 |Apr low C = 14.6 |May low C = 12.4 |Jun low C = 10.8 |Jul low C = 9.9 |Aug low C = 9.9 |Sep low C = 10.5 |Oct low C = 12.1 |Nov low C = 14.2 |Dec low C = 16.2 |year low C = 13.6 |Jan record low C = 8.6 |Feb record low C = 8.3 |Mar record low C = 6.3 |Apr record low C = 4.4 |May record low C = 3.3 |Jun record low C = 1.6 |Jul record low C = 1.5 |Aug record low C = 0.1 |Sep record low C = 1.0 |Oct record low C = 3.2 |Nov record low C = 4.4 |Dec record low C = 4.4 |year record low C = 0.1 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 11.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 14.1 |Mar precipitation mm = 16.0 |Apr precipitation mm = 30.4 |May precipitation mm = 79.4 |Jun precipitation mm = 117.4 |Jul precipitation mm = 119.0 |Aug precipitation mm = 91.6 |Sep precipitation mm = 56.2 |Oct precipitation mm = 28.2 |Nov precipitation mm = 20.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 8.3 |year precipitation mm = 587.8 |Jan precipitation days = 2.2 |Feb precipitation days = 2.1 |Mar precipitation days = 3.6 |Apr precipitation days = 6.9 |May precipitation days = 11.5 |Jun precipitation days = 15.1 |Jul precipitation days = 16.7 |Aug precipitation days = 15.0 |Sep precipitation days = 12.3 |Oct precipitation days = 8.0 |Nov precipitation days = 5.3 |Dec precipitation days = 2.9 |year precipitation days = 101.6 |humidity colour=green |Jan humidity = 61 |Feb humidity = 60 |Mar humidity = 60 |Apr humidity = 62 |May humidity = 61 |Jun humidity = 63 |Jul humidity = 65 |Aug humidity = 64 |Sep humidity = 64 |Oct humidity = 62 |Nov humidity = 62 |Dec humidity = 61 |year humidity = 62 |source 1 = <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_009114_All.shtml | publisher = Bureau of Meteorology |title = Climate statistics for Lancelin |access-date = 2 September 2014}}</ref> |date= September 2014 }} </div>

==Gallery== {{Gallery |align=centre  |width=180 |height=180

|file:Lancelin War Memorial August 2018.jpg |Lancelin War Memorial

|file:Lancelin Island August 2018.jpg |Lancelin Island viewed from the lookout

|file:Lancelin Jetty from Lancelin Lookout.jpg |View from Lancelin Lookout southward towards the town centre and the jetty

|file:Lancelin Sand Dunes from lookout.jpg |Sand dunes to the northeast of Lancelin viewed from the lookout

|file:Lancelin Sand Dunes 2.jpg |Lancelin sand dunes }}

== References == {{Reflist |30em}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060824111841/http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/WALancelin.shtml Walkabout - Lancelin] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080908111330/http://www.about-australia.com/travel-guides/western-australia/perth/attractions/natural/lancelin-island-nature-reserve/ Lancelin Island Nature Reserve] *[http://www.lancelin.com.au Lancelin - News]

Category:Coastal towns in Western Australia Category:Towns in Western Australia Category:Fishing communities in Australia Category:Shire of Gingin