Walker Island (Northern Tasmania)

This article is about the island in northern Tasmania. For the island in southern Tasmania, see Walker Island (Southern Tasmania).
For other places with the same name, see Walker Island.

Walker Island
Sign at crossing to Robbins and Walker Islands.
Walker Island is located in Tasmania
Walker Island
Walker Island
Location of Walker Island in the Bass Strait
Geography
LocationBass Strait
Coordinates40°35′59″S 144°55′47″E / 40.59972°S 144.92972°E / -40.59972; 144.92972
Area700 ha (1,700 acres)[1]
Administration
Australia
StateTasmania
LGACircular Head Council
Additional information
Time zone
 • Summer (DST)
Privately-owned

The Walker Island, sometimes also Walker's Island, is a 700-hectare (1,700-acre)[1] island located in Bass Strait, lying off the northwest coast of Tasmania, Australia.[2] The island, separated from the Tasmanian mainland by a highly tidal area known as Robbins Passage,[3] lies north of the adjacent Robbins Island.[4][2]

Access to Walker Island is available via the Walker Island Airport.[5]

The island, together with the adjacent Robbins Island, has been privately owned by the Hammond family since 1961. In 2016 it was reported that the family graze approximately 7,000 head of Wagyu cattle on both islands,[1] and mainland Tasmania.[6]

HMAS Riawe had her commercial origins in the Robbins and Walker Islands prior to her 1942 requisition by the Department of the Navy for duties with the Naval Auxiliary Patrol during World War II.[7]

  1. ^ a b c Hudson, Sarah (29 November 2013). "Hammond brothers turn the tide". The Weekly Times. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Walker Island (TAS)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
  3. ^ "Scalefish Fishery Management Plan Review Information Paper" (PDF). Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery Management Plan. State Library of Tasmania. March 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  4. ^ "False Killer Whale stranding, Walker's Island, Tasmania". National Whale and Dolphin Sightings and Strandings Database. Australian Government - Department of the Environment and Water Resources. January 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  5. ^ "Walker Island Airport". Airport Guide. 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. ^ Breen, Fiona (4 October 2016). "The saltwater muster". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Ships, Boats & Craft: HMAS Riawe". Royal Australian Navy. Australian Government. Retrieved 5 July 2017.