North Island (Houtman Abrolhos)

North Island
View across a sandy strip of land, with ocean on both sides. The land nearest the observer is mostly sandy, and has many buildings on it, and some jetties. The land furthest from the observer is thickly vegetated. The ocean in the foreground is blue-green, with dark patches indicating areas of coral reef. The ocean in the background is light blue. There is a line of breakers in the distance.
Aerial photograph of the southern half of North Island, looking west
Geography
LocationIndian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia
Coordinates28°18′9″S 113°35′41″E / 28.30250°S 113.59472°E / -28.30250; 113.59472[1]
ArchipelagoHoutman Abrolhos
Area180 ha (440 acres)
Length2 km (1.2 mi)
Width1.5 km (0.93 mi)
Highest elevation13 m (43 ft)
Highest pointRecord Hill
Administration
Australia
StateWestern Australia
Demographics
PopulationSeasonally inhabited by about 130 lobster fishers (2003)
A British Admiralty map entitled "The Houtman Rocks", showing four groups of islands, oriented north-west, west of a coastline also oriented north-west. Soundings are shown along various tracks between islands and coast. Two insets show detailed sounding in Recruit Bay and Good Friday Bay. An island in the north-west corner is labelled "North I."
The first published map showing North Island was an 1845 British Admiralty chart entitled "The Houtman Rocks".

North Island is the northernmost island in the Houtman Abrolhos, a coral reef archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mid West Western Australia. Located about 14 km (9 mi) from the nearest island group, it is one of the largest islands in the Houtman Abrolhos, and one of the few to support dune systems. It has relatively diverse flora dominated by chenopod shrubs and fauna that includes the introduced tammar wallaby, around seven species of reptile, and about 15 resident bird species.

First recorded and surveyed in 1840, North Island has been a seasonal camp for western rock lobster fishermen since the beginning of the 20th century, and this remains the principal focus of human activity on the island. There is also a small amount of tourism, though for the most part it is reserved as conservation habitat for vegetation communities and rare birds.

  1. ^ Gazetteer of Australia (1996). Belconnen, ACT: Australian Surveying and Land Information Group. A less precise but more up-to-date record is available online at "North Island". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.