RECHERCHE BAY, TASMANIA

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There are a three small settlements on Recherche Bay - Catamaran, Recherche Bay and Cockle Creek. These are the most southern communities in Australia. A signpost at Cockle Creek marks the most southerly point in Australia accessible by motor vehicle. The southern tip of Tasmania, Australia's southern extremity, which marks the beginning of the South West Walk, is just an hour's walk away. The bay was the first landing place of French explorer Bruny D'Entrecasteaux who came ashore here for water and stayed for a number of weeks in 1792 to rest his crew and complete maintenance on his ships. Coal found on North Point by D'Entrecasteaux was mined by a team of 43 convicts from 1841 to 1848. Mining was abandoned because of seepage in its two shafts due to the mine being so close to sea level. The bay had also become a centre for whaling (recalled in the Whale Sculpture). It was here that the last iron barque to sail Australia's shores, the 'James Craig', now restored and on display in Sydney, NSW, was scuttled at her moorings in 1932 and was left abandoned for 40 years.
Location: 80 km south of Southport.
Points of interest: South West National Park; Fishers Point; Whale Head; South East Cape; D'Entrecasteaux River; Catamaran River; Southport Lagoon; Whale sculpture; historic watering site of the D'Entrecasteaux expedition of 1792-93.