{{Short description|Islet in South Australia}} {{about|the islet in South Australia|the island in Queensland|Pelorus Island}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox islands | name = Pelorus Islet | image = Pelorus Rocks - off Kangaroo Island(GN02758).jpg | image_caption = Pelorus Rocks, off Kangaroo Island, ca 1925 | map = South Australia | map_caption = | location = [[Great Australian Bight]] | country = Australia | population = 0 }}
'''Pelorus Islet''' (also known as '''Pelorus Reef''' and '''Pelorus Rock''') is an [[islet]] in the Australian state of [[South Australia]] located in [[Great Australian Bight]] off the south coast of [[Kangaroo Island]] approximately {{convert|7|km|abbr=off}} east south-east of [[Cape Gantheaume]]. It was named by Captain Francis Harding, [[Royal Navy|RN]] after [[HMS Pelorus (1808)|HMS ''Pelorus'']].
==Description== Pelorus Islet is about {{convert|7|km|abbr=off}} east south-east of Cape Gantheaume. It consists of three separate islets - a main round topped peak of {{convert|12|m|abbr=off}} height with a reef with several rocks sitting above water level to its east and another exposed rock to its south-west. It is inaccessible by boat as it is subject to continuous [[swell (ocean)|swells]].<ref name= page300/>
==Formation, geology and oceanography== Peloris Islet was formed between 7500 and 8900 years ago after sea levels rose at the start of the [[Holocene]] when Kangaroo Island became separated from [[Yorke Peninsula|Yorke]] and [[Fleurieu Peninsula|Fleurieu]] Peninsulas.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 1990|publisher=Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia|location=Adelaide, SA|isbn=0-7308-5862-6 |pages=26|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/fb13b9bf-5c8e-445c-9c3c-a1c600c14815/ki-biological-survey-climate-geology-landuse-gen.pdf|editor=Robinson, A. C. |editor2=Armstrong, D. M.|access-date=1 May 2014}}</ref> Pelorus Islet is the remains of a [[intrusion|volcanic intrusion]] reported as being some 506 million years old.<ref name= page300/> The islet rises abruptly from a depth of {{convert|35|m|abbr=off}}.<ref name=Chart11>{{Citation | author1=South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors | 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 | pages= Chart 11|isbn=978-0-7243-7603-2 }}</ref>
==Flora and fauna== As of 1996, no terrestrial vegetation was present as the islet has been ‘scoured of any soil and small eroded fragments, leaving only a few large boulders’ while the only vertebrate animals observed were [[New Zealand fur seal]]s and [[greater crested tern|crested terns]].<ref name= page300>{{cite web|author1 = Robinson A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2 = Canty, P.| author3 = Mooney, T.| author4 = Rudduck, P.|pages=300|year=1996}}</ref>
==History== [[Nicolas Baudin]] is reported as being the first European to describe the islet, however he did not name the islet. The islet was surveyed in May 1838 by HMS ''Pelorus'' under the command of Captain Francis Harding RN. It is reported that Harding named the islet after the ship.<ref name= page126>{{cite web|author1 = Robinson A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2 = Canty, P.| author3 = Mooney, T.| author4 = Rudduck, P.|pages=126|year=1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=(Captain Francis) Harding |url=http://www.hmspelorus.com/Harding.html|publisher=www(dot)hmspelorus(dot)com/|access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref> The Pelorus Islet is reported as being the site of the wrecking of ''You Yangs'' on 14 June 1890. ''You Yangs'' was a 672 gross tonnage barque rigged screw steamer owned by Howard Smith and Sons.<ref>{{cite web|title=(Australian National Shipwreck Database) View Shipwreck - You Yangs|url=https://dmzapp17p.ris.environment.gov.au/shipwreck/public/wreck/wreck.do?key=5910|publisher= Department of the Environment, Commonwealth of Australia|access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>
==Protected areas status== Pelorus Islet originally obtained [[protected area]] status as a fauna reserve under the former ''Fauna Conservation Act 1964''<ref name= page140>{{cite web|author1 = Robinson A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2 = Canty, P.| author3 = Mooney, T.| author4 = Rudduck, P.|pages=140|year=1996}}</ref> As of 1996, it was described as being vacant crown land.<ref name= page147>{{cite web|author1 = Robinson A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2 = Canty, P.| author3 = Mooney, T.| author4 = Rudduck, P.|pages=147|year=1996}}</ref> It obtained status as a fauna conservation reserve declared under the ''Crown Lands Act 1929-1966'' on 16 March 1967.<ref name=FCR-1967>{{cite web|title=CROWN LANDS ACT, 1929-1966: FAUNA CONSERVATION RESERVES DEDICATED.|url=http://www8.austlii.edu.au/au/other/sa_gazette/1967/11.pdf |website=THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE |publisher=Government of South Australia|access-date=5 February 2018|pages=961–962|date=16 March 1967}}</ref> As of 2016, the islet is part of the [[Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park]].<ref name=PLB>{{cite web |title=Search result for "Pelorus Islet (IS)" (Record no SA0056205) |url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/# |work=Property Location Browser |publisher=Government of South Australia |access-date=21 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012010923/http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/ |archive-date=12 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of 2012, the waters surrounding its shores are part of a habitat protection zone located within the boundaries of the [[Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park (state waters)|Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park Management Plan 2012|url= http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/68e0453b-376d-4429-a4dd-a11700a21e42/mp-gen-17southernkangarooisland-managementplan.pdf |publisher=Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources|access-date=13 May 2014|pages=25/26|year=2012}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Islands of South Australia |state=collapsed}} {{coord|36|06|S|137|32|E|display=title|region:AU_type:isle_source:GNS-enwiki}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pelorus Islet}} [[Category:Islands of South Australia]]