Pelican Point (Swan River)

Point Currie aka Pelican Point from the north east

Pelican Point is a geographical feature and nature reserve on the Swan River in Perth, located at Matilda Bay near the University of Western Australia. The point is named for the pelicans that rest on sand bars at the end of the point.

Pelican Point was formerly named Point Currie after Captain Currie, who in 1829 received an allotment of land in the area and which became known as Crawley.

The area south of the point's axis is now a bird sanctuary.[1]

The northern side includes the Royal Perth Yacht Club, Mounts Bay Sailing Club,[2] the 1st Pelican Point Sea Scouts[3][4] and a public boat ramp. A road named Australia II Drive runs off Hackett Drive.

During World War II the area hosted a United States naval base which used the name Pelican Point, at which Catalina Flying Boats were based.[5]

  1. ^ "BIRD LIFE AT PELICAN POINT SANCTUARY". Daily News. Vol. LII, no. 18, 077. Western Australia. 18 February 1933. p. 16 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved 30 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "NEW CLUB ROOMS". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 2177. Western Australia. 15 October 1939. p. 16. Retrieved 30 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "PELICAN POINT REGATTA". The West Australian. Vol. 65, no. 19, 545. Western Australia. 8 March 1949. p. 16. Retrieved 30 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Welcome to Pelican Point". Pelican Point Sea Scouts. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Military Units Based at Crawley (Pelican Point) US Navy Seaplane Base in Western Australia". Peter Dunn's Australian@War. Archived from the original on 20 September 2002. Retrieved 22 September 2013.