Point Peron
The last sizeable piece of coastal sand dunes in the Perth region to survive in its natural state, Pt. Peron is surrounded by the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. The peninsula marks the southern end of Cockburn Sound.
For generations of Western Australian school children, Point Peron holds special memories as the location for school camps. It is a safe location for swimming, snorkelling and exploring its small bays and rocky outcrops and for spotting the odd dolphin swimming past. Numerous World War II gun placements, all inter-connected by a series of tunnels under the sand dunes, dot the cape, and are worthy of exploration.
A causeway to the naval support facility on Garden Island extends from the point's northern shore. Though by no means a tourist attraction, Pt. Peron is worth a visit if you are in the area and want to spend some time alone with nature.
A lookout high above the rocks provides an excellent view of Shoalwater Bay and nearby islands.
Location: Pt. Peron Rd, Shoalwater. How to get there: via Parkin St., Rockingham.
The Cape Peron Coastal Defense Battery or "K" Battery as it was labelled was begun late in 1942 but never fired an angry shot. The war zone soon moved away from Western Australia and the battery was decommissioned early in 1945.
The Cape Peron Battery consisted of two 155mm Guns, a large observation post and operations centre with bunkers for housing personnel, storage of ammunition etc. All were connected by subterranian tunnels. The Operations Centre was used to co-ordinate battery activities by telephone.
The guns were of French design and manufactured in 1917-18. They were modified slightly by the US Government after purchase for use in World War I. The Peron guns used 42.08 kg shells, had a maximum range of 18.4 km and could move through 270deg. They were supported by a field observation post and two searchlights for night firing. As the guns proved troublesome to operate because of age and wear, it was decided to re-equip the Peron Battery with 5.25 inch guns which could also be used against aircraft.However, by the time they arrived in Fremantle it was unlikely that Cockburn Sound would be used as a war time naval base, and they were not installed. The battery was decommissioned early in 1945
For many years, the Battery's field observation post, situated on the highest point of the cape (26 metres above sea level), has given visitors spectacular views of the surrounding coastline, but the gun sites were relatively unknown as they fell within the boundaries of a children's campsite.
In 1993, the Peron Battery was placed on the Interim List of the National Estate Register and the various buildings and gun emplacements were connected by pathways. The observation post, operations centre and gun emplacement No. 1 are in relatively good condition. Gun emplacement No. 2 is situated on a sandhill that has suffered major erosion and the fort is near collapse. The tunnels were sealed shut years ago but erosion of the sandhills on which they were excavated has resulted in a few tunnels entrances being open again.
Point Peron was originally (and is still correctly) named Cape Peron, however as there are five Cape Perons in Australia, two of which are in Western Australia, the name Point Peron has been allowed to come into popular use to differentiate it from the others. It was named on 18 June 1801, by a French expedition headed by Nicolas Baudin, after the expedition's naturalist, Francois Peron.
- About Francois Peron
It is highly unlikely that Baudin named the gregraphical feature as he and Peron did not get on, and by the time they had reached Australia's shores, they in fact dispised each other. Baudin, Peron and Louis de Freycinet all wrote journals of the voyage and protocol dictated that Baudin's journal be published first, since he was the expedition leader. However, Baudin died on the voyage home to France. Ever the opportinist, Peron made sure Baudin's journal was 'lost' for a few years, so his own could be published first, hence the many coastal features that are now named after him. Both Baudin's and de Freycinet's journals were eventually published, but as Peron's was first, the names he gave were used ahead of Baudin's.
