# Pelorus Islet

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Islet in South Australia

This article is about the islet in South Australia. For the island in Queensland, see [Pelorus Island](/source/Pelorus_Island).

Pelorus Islet Pelorus Rocks, off Kangaroo Island, ca 1925 Pelorus Islet Geography Location Great Australian Bight Administration Australia Demographics Population 0

**Pelorus Islet** (also known as **Pelorus Reef** and **Pelorus Rock**) is an [islet](/source/Islet) in the Australian state of [South Australia](/source/South_Australia) located in [Great Australian Bight](/source/Great_Australian_Bight) off the south coast of [Kangaroo Island](/source/Kangaroo_Island) approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) east south-east of [Cape Gantheaume](/source/Cape_Gantheaume). It was named by Captain Francis Harding, [RN](/source/Royal_Navy) after [HMS *Pelorus*](/source/HMS_Pelorus_(1808)).

## Description

Pelorus Islet is about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) east south-east of Cape Gantheaume. It consists of three separate islets - a main round topped peak of 12 metres (39 feet) 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 [swells](/source/Swell_(ocean)).[1]

## Formation, geology and oceanography

Peloris Islet was formed between 7500 and 8900 years ago after sea levels rose at the start of the [Holocene](/source/Holocene) when Kangaroo Island became separated from [Yorke](/source/Yorke_Peninsula) and [Fleurieu](/source/Fleurieu_Peninsula) Peninsulas.[2] Pelorus Islet is the remains of a [volcanic intrusion](/source/Intrusion) reported as being some 506 million years old.[1] The islet rises abruptly from a depth of 35 metres (115 feet).[3]

## 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 seals](/source/New_Zealand_fur_seal) and [crested terns](/source/Greater_crested_tern).[1]

## History

[Nicolas Baudin](/source/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.[4][5] 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.[6]

## Protected areas status

Pelorus Islet originally obtained [protected area](/source/Protected_area) status as a fauna reserve under the former *Fauna Conservation Act 1964*[7] As of 1996, it was described as being vacant crown land.[8] It obtained status as a fauna conservation reserve declared under the *Crown Lands Act 1929-1966* on 16 March 1967.[9] As of 2016, the islet is part of the [Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park](/source/Cape_Gantheaume_Conservation_Park).[10] 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](/source/Southern_Kangaroo_Island_Marine_Park_(state_waters)).[11]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-page300_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-page300_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-page300_1-2) Robinson A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (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. p. 300. Retrieved 13 December 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Robinson, A. C.; Armstrong, D. M. (eds.). [*A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 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. p. 26. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7308-5862-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7308-5862-6). Retrieved 1 May 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Chart11_3-0)** South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors (1985), *The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs*, Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia, pp. Chart 11, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7243-7603-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7243-7603-2)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-page126_4-0)** Robinson A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (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. p. 126. Retrieved 13 December 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["(Captain Francis) Harding"](http://www.hmspelorus.com/Harding.html). www(dot)hmspelorus(dot)com/. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["(Australian National Shipwreck Database) View Shipwreck - You Yangs"](https://dmzapp17p.ris.environment.gov.au/shipwreck/public/wreck/wreck.do?key=5910). Department of the Environment, Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-page140_7-0)** Robinson A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (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. p. 140. Retrieved 13 December 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-page147_8-0)** Robinson A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (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. p. 147. Retrieved 13 December 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FCR-1967_9-0)** ["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-PLB_10-0)** ["Search result for "Pelorus Islet (IS)" (Record no SA0056205)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161012010923/http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/). *Property Location Browser*. Government of South Australia. Archived from [the original](http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/#) on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park Management Plan 2012"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/68e0453b-376d-4429-a4dd-a11700a21e42/mp-gen-17southernkangarooisland-managementplan.pdf) (PDF). Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources. 2012. pp. 25/26. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

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[36°06′S 137°32′E / 36.100°S 137.533°E / -36.100; 137.533](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Pelorus_Islet&params=36_06_S_137_32_E_region:AU_type:isle_source:GNS-enwiki)

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