Rapid Bay, South Australia

{{Short description|Coastal town in South Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Rapid Bay | state = sa | image = R.Bay.jpg | caption = Patpangga / Rapid Bay shoreline | image_alt = | relief = | coordinates = {{coord|35.527537|S|138.18951|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coord_ref = <ref name="LMV">{{cite web|title=Search results for 'Rapid Bay, LOCB' with the following datasets being selected – 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Postcode', 'Government Towns', 'Counties', 'Hundreds', 'Local Government Areas', 'SA Government Regions', 'Land Development Plan Zone Categories' and 'Gazetteer' |url=http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/|website=Location SA Map Viewer|publisher=Government of South Australia|access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref> | pushpin_label_position = top | map_alt = | pop = 16 | pop_year = {{censusAU|2016}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name= Census2016>{{Census 2016 AUS|id= SSC41225 |name= State Suburb of Rapid Bay |accessdate=4 March 2018|quick=on}}</ref> | poprank = | density = | density_footnotes = | established = | established_footnotes = | abolished = | gazetted = | postcode = 5204 | elevation = | elevation_footnotes = | area = | area_footnotes = | timezone = ACST | utc = +9:30 | timezone-dst = ACDT | utc-dst = +10:30 | dist1 = 100 | dir1 = S | location1 = Adelaide | dist2 = | dir2 = | location2 = | lga = District Council of Yankalilla | region = Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island<ref>{{cite web|title= Fleurieu Kangaroo Island SA Government region |url= http://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/21612/Fleurieu_Kangaroo_Island_SA_Government_region.pdf |publisher=The Government of South Australia|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> | county = Hindmarsh<ref name="LMV"/> | stategov = Mawson<ref name=EDBC>{{cite map |url=http://edbc.sa.gov.au/redistributions/2016/2016-electoral-district-maps/mawson-map-2016-pdf/download.html |title=Mawson |publisher=Electoral District Boundaries Commission |date=2016 |access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> | fedgov = Mayo | maxtemp = 17.5 | maxtemp_footnotes = <ref name=climate>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_023875.shtml | publisher = Bureau of Meteorology |title = Climate statistics for PARAWA (SECOND VALLEY FOREST AWS) (nearest station) |access-date = 4 March 2018}}</ref> | mintemp = 10.3 | mintemp_footnotes = <ref name=climate/> | rainfall = 839.0 | rainfall_footnotes = <ref name=climate/> | near-n = ''Gulf St Vincent'' | near-ne = Second Valley | near-e = Second Valley | near-se = Second Valley | near-s = Cape Jervis<br />Delamere | near-sw = Cape Jervis | near-w = ''Gulf St Vincent'' | near-nw = ''Gulf St Vincent'' | near = Rapid Bay | footnotes = Adjoining localities<ref name="LMV"/> }} thumb|Rapid Bay shoreline '''Rapid Bay''' is a locality that includes a small seaside town and bay on the west coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It lies within the District Council of Yankalilla and its township is approximately 100&nbsp;km south of the state capital, Adelaide. A pair of jetties are popular attractions for recreational fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling. The bay particularly known as a site for observing leafy seadragons in the wild. Its postcode is 5204.

==History==

Rapid Bay features in the creation myths of the Kaurna and Ramindjeri peoples most notably as the burial site of the nephew of the Kaurna creator ancestor known as Tjilbruke.<ref>[http://www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1248 City of Holdfast Bay: Tjilbruke Heritage & the Kaurna People] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712050246/http://www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1248 |date=12 July 2010 }}</ref> There is uncertainty as to the Kaurna name for Rapid Bay, which has been cited as Patparno,<ref name=marionarts>{{cite web | title=Arts and culture | website=City of Marion | date=7 February 2018 | url=https://www.marion.sa.gov.au/services-we-offer/arts-and-culture/warriparinga?token=s7hdy9okdkxhyoxiqli63_bith5rjhpk | access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref> Patpangga (meaning "south" or "south place"), and Yarta-kulangga, a popular campsite at Rapid Bay, whose name probably means "place of the separate country". However, there is no evidence that any of these names was a place name for Rapid Bay,<ref>{{cite web | last=Schultz | first=Chester | title=Place Name Summary (PNS) 1/03: Patpangga |date= 4 August 2016 | website=Adelaide Research & Scholarship|series=The Southern Kaurna Place Names Project|publisher=University of Adelaide | url=https://www.adelaide.edu.au/kwp/placenames/research-publ/1-03Patpangga.pdf | access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref> though the bay is officially dual-named '''Patpangga'''.<ref>{{Gazette SA | title = Geographical Names Act 1991 | issue = 21 | page = 826 | date = 24 March 2011 }}</ref>

Prior to the establishment of the South Australian colony, whalers based on Kangaroo Island were known to have called at Rapid Bay though it was not so named until 1836.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vol. 15 No. 1 (1 January 1949)|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-741199170|access-date=2021-07-31|via=Trove|language=en}}</ref> South Australia Colonial Surveyor General Colonel William Light made his first landfall on mainland South Australia at Rapid Bay on 8 September 1836.<ref>Elder, David F., 'Light, William (1786–1839)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, [https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/light-william-2359/text3089], accessed 11 October 2012.</ref> The site was named after Light's ship, the 162 ton brig ''Rapid''. To mark this historic landfall the Colonel's initials, "W.L.", were carved into a large boulder – a replica is visible in the township, while the original is stored in the South Australian Museum, in Adelaide. John Rapid Hoare (7 November 1836 – perhaps 7 July 1916),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15695259 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |issue=24,503 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=19 July 1916 |access-date=29 June 2017 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> also named for the brig ''Rapid'', was the first European child born on mainland South Australia. Claims that he was born at Rapid Bay<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4843307 |title=The Firstborn South Australian Male |newspaper=The Advertiser|location=Adelaide, South Australia |volume=XLIII |issue=13,310 |date=15 June 1901 |access-date=29 June 2017 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> have been refuted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106485932 |title=South Australia's Oldest Natives |newspaper=The Herald |volume=X |issue=3012 |location=South Australia |date=14 November 1919 |access-date=29 June 2017 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Rapid Bay was briefly considered by Light as a potential site for the new colony's capital,<ref name=":1" /> but with the discovery of the Adelaide Plains it faded into quiet obscurity. On his first visit, Light created a garden then left the bay in the hands of Kangaroo Island sealers and indigenous people from the Encounter Bay area.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Walkabout Vol. 15 No. 1 (1 January 1949)|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-741199170|access-date=2021-07-31|via=Trove|language=en}}</ref>

== Quarrying == The BHP constructed the town, an ore-loading jetty and a high voltage power line from Willunga during the period 1938 to 1942 as part of the works undertaken to establish a limestone quarry. During the construction of the jetty, a worker named John Gamlin went missing and was presumed to have fallen from a platform that lacked rails and drowned. The tide was running quickly and wind speeds were reaching 40 miles per hour on the day of his disappearance.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1941-12-10|title=WORKER DISAPPEARS FROM RAPID BAY JETTY|pages=3|work=News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954)|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131968271|access-date=2021-07-31}}</ref>

Quarrying commenced in 1942.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cowan|first=David|title=History|publisher=Friends of Rapid Bay Jetty |url=http://www.rapidbayjetty.org/history.htm|access-date=11 October 2012}}</ref> The limestone was transported by sea and used as a flux at BHP's Whyalla Steelworks in South Australia, and Newcastle and Port Kembla in New South Wales.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Limestone|url=http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/minerals/geological_survey_of_sa/commodities/limestone|website=Geological Survey of SA|access-date=27 August 2014}}</ref>

In 1948, production averaged 30,000 tonnes per month with a fully mechanised process from electric shovel to crushers, then by conveyor to ship. At that time there were 41 men employed at the project, including office staff.<ref name=":2" />

BHP's assets, including a crushing plant, jetty and loading wharf, were eventually sold to Adbri in 1981.

On 1 January 1982, ownership of the jetty was transferred to the Government of South Australia at no cost.<ref name=":0">[http://www.rapidbayjetty.org/history.htm Friends of Rapid Bay Jetty > History]. Accessed 2014-03-21</ref>

Total production from 1942 to 2013 is estimated at 17 million tonnes, most of which was used for industrial purposes. Incomplete figures indicate production for construction material between 1977 and 2013 was roughly 550,000 tonnes. A small volume of roadbase materials continues to be quarried from the site.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mineral Deposit Details|url=https://minerals.sarig.sa.gov.au/MineralDepositDetails.aspx?DEPOSIT_NO=4125|access-date=2021-07-31|website=minerals.sarig.sa.gov.au}}</ref> The quarry and remaining buildings are located within tenements PM11 and PM12 which as of 2021 are held by Adelaide Brighton Cement and Croser Bros.

The history of the township during the BHP years was recorded by Des Lord in the 2018 book ''Rapid Bay... Before we forget. History and memoirs of a mining town''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trove|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/237166809/version/264414181|access-date=2021-07-31|website=trove.nla.gov.au}}</ref>

==Attractions== Rapid Bay is known for its steep cliffs, caves, beach, two jetties and associated artificial reef. A resident leafy seadragon population inhabits the bay and weedy seadragons are also occasionally seen.

It is considered to be among the best scuba diving sites in South Australia<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hutchison|first=Stuart|date=2001-12-01|title=Travellin' South|journal=Australasia Scuba Diver|pages=18–30}}</ref> and Australia<ref>[http://www.southalltravel.co.uk/news/Australia/19633880/Australia-the-best-destination-for-shore-diving.html Australia 'the best destination for shore diving']</ref> and has been featured on ''SportDiver'' as one of the world's top nine dives.<ref>[http://www.sportdiver.com/photos/9-worlds-best-dives "9 world's best dives"] SportDiver.com. Accessed 2014-03-20.</ref> The ecological communities on the jetty piles are well-established and attract large schools of fish including Old Wives and Zebra Fish. Over 70 species of fish have been recorded in Rapid Bay.<ref>[http://biocache.ala.org.au/explore/your-area#-35.522929764327706|138.18559843488765|14|Fish Atlas of Living Australia > Rapid Bay Jetty > Fishes]. Accessed 2014-03-22</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rapid Bay, South Australia|url=https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/rapid-bay-south-australia|access-date=2021-08-02|website=iNaturalist|language=en}}</ref> Many marine invertebrates can be observed on the jetty piles and living among the debris on the seafloor. Iconic examples include the Australian giant cuttlefish and the blue-ringed octopus.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

Rapid Bay is also a popular recreational fishing site, with fishing possible from shore, boat, kayak and the deck of the public jetty. The historic industrial jetty is permanently closed due to its state of natural decay.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

=== Jetties === The first jetty at Rapid Bay was built in the late 1860s, described as "new" in 1867 and assessed by the Marine Board in 1871. It was considered well made but poorly designed owing to its south-westerly heading and the shallowness of water at its terminus. The jetty had been intended to feature a crane to assist with loading and unloading cargoes but the crane was lost in transit from Second Valley in some four-and-a-half fathoms of water where it was abandoned.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1867-08-17|title=RAPID BAY JETTY.|pages=6|work=Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 – 1904)|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159512488|access-date=2021-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1871-08-18|title=RAPID BAY JETTY.|pages=3|work=Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 – 1912)|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197658976|access-date=2021-07-31}}</ref> The first jetty at Rapid Bay was constructed of timber and was intended for the export of wool and wheat. Wheat and lead were exported from Second Valley during the 1860s owing to the lack of a suitable road to bring those cargoes to the waterfront at Rapid Bay.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}} The first Rapid Bay jetty's landward end was some 50 yards distant from the later BHP construction.<ref name=":2" />

==== BHP Jetty ====

The BHP Jetty was originally {{convert|1600|ft|m|order=flip}} long, with a 'T' section of {{convert|650|ft|m|order=flip}} length for ship-loading. The jetty terminated in {{convert|30|ft|m|order=flip}} of water (at lowest tide).<ref>The Recorder [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45008111 "B.H.P. at Rapid Bay – Limestone Plant Near Completion"] (17 April 1942) Retrieved 2013-11-20.</ref> Originally built by BHP and later operated by Adelaide Brighton Cement, the jetty ceased commercial operations in 1991.<ref name=":0" /> It suffered storm damage in 2004, after which it was progressively closed in stages for the purpose of ensuring public safety. Above the water, the jetty is slowly decaying and is off-limits to the general public. Below the water, the jetty provides habitat for a wide variety of temperate marine species. Since its closure, the above-water structure has also become an increasingly valuable roost for seabirds.{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}} The Jetty collapsed in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/south/fishers-and-divers-told-to-steer-clear-of-old-rapid-bay-jetty-as-it-collapses/news-story/cc4879ce4cf832300f7e5c44cc88a934?amp&nk=7fc7b8df09fe3bbc725acf16a0e139a0-1642308774|title = History sinks as Fleurieu Peninsula jetty collapses|newspaper = The Advertiser|date = 14 January 2022|last1 = Jarvis|first1 = Emily}}</ref>

==== Public Jetty ====

Construction of a new jetty of {{convert|240|m|abbr=off}} length located {{convert|50|m|abbr=off}} east of the BHP jetty was completed in 2009 to replace the public amenity lost by the progressive closure of the BHP jetty.<ref>'Rapid Bay', [http://www.about-australia.com/south-australia/fleurieu-peninsula/destinations/rapid-bay/], retrieved 11/10/2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.victorharbortimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/rapid-progress-on-new-jetty/1328587.aspx |title='Rapid' progress on new jetty – Local News – News – General – the Times |access-date=2010-06-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113304/http://www.victorharbortimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/rapid-progress-on-new-jetty/1328587.aspx |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}</ref>

The new jetty has since been colonised by marine life and augments the more established ecological communities on and around the historic jetty. At the seaward end, a staircase provides safe and easy entry to the water for divers and snorkelers. The jetty features concrete decking, is artificially lit after dark and is a popular spot for recreational fishing.{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}}

==Gallery== <gallery class="center" widths="200" heights="150"> File:Rapid Bay Old Jetty.jpg|alt=Rapid Bay Old Jetty, viewed from new jetty|Rapid Bay old jetty, viewed from new jetty File:Township, Rapid Bay, 1950 - B12179.jpg|View of the Town, the Quarry and the Jetty looking west towards Rapid Head (image created in 1950) File:Rapid Bay quarry.JPG|The limestone quarry at Rapid Bay as seen from the public car park for the jetty. </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.rapidbayjetty.org/ Friends of Rapid Bay Jetty], retrieved 11/10/2012. *[https://divingadelaide.com.au/guided-dives/shore-diving/rapid-bay-jetty/ Dive the Rapid Bay Jetty | Diving Adelaide]

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{{Fleurieu Peninsula|state=autocollapse}} {{District Council of Yankalilla suburbs|state=collapsed}} {{Bays of South Australia|state=collapsed}} {{Recreational dive sites|reesit}} {{authority control}}

Category:Coastal towns in South Australia Category:Fleurieu Peninsula Category:Mining towns in South Australia Category:Bays of South Australia Category:Gulf St Vincent Category:Underwater diving sites in Australia