Phillip Island

Phillip Island
Native name:
Corriong/Worne/Millowl
Map of Phillip Island
Phillip Island is located in Victoria
Phillip Island
Phillip Island
Geography
LocationWestern Port
Coordinates38°29′S 145°14′E / 38.483°S 145.233°E / -38.483; 145.233
Area101 km2 (39 sq mi)
Length26 km (16.2 mi)
Width9 km (5.6 mi)
Coastline97 km (60.3 mi)
Highest elevation110 m (360 ft)
Administration
Australia
StateVictoria
LGABass Coast Shire
Largest settlementCowes (pop. 6593[1])
Demographics
Population13,799 (2021)
Pop. density137.03/km2 (354.91/sq mi)

Phillip Island (Boonwurrung: Corriong, Worne or Millowl)[2][3] is an Australian island about 125 km (78 mi) south-southeast of Melbourne, Victoria. The island is named after Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, by explorer and seaman George Bass, who sailed in a whaleboat, arriving from Sydney on 5 January 1798.

Phillip Island forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of the Western Port. It is 26 km (16 mi) long and 9 km (5.6 mi) wide, with an area of about 101 km2 (40 sq mi).[4] It has 97 km (60 mi) of coastline and is part of the Bass Coast Shire.

A 640 m (2,100 ft) concrete bridge (originally a wooden bridge) connects the mainland town San Remo with the island town Newhaven.[4] In the 2021 census, the island's permanent population was 13,799,[5] compared to 7,071 in 2001.[6] During the summer, the population swells to 40,000. 60% of the island is farmland devoted to grazing of sheep and cattle.

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Cowes". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 October 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Indigenous History". Phillip Island Tourist Bureau Association. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  3. ^ Clark, Ian D. (2002). Dictionary of Aboriginal placenames of Victoria. Heydon, Toby, 1972-, Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages. Melbourne: Victorian Aboriginal Corp. for Languages. ISBN 0-9579360-2-8. OCLC 54913331.
  4. ^ a b "Phillip Island". The Age. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  5. ^ "2021 Census QuickStats: Phillip Island". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ^ 2001 Population Statistics Bass Coast Shire Council Website