Western Port

Western Port
Warn Marin / Western Port Bay
Western Port seen from French Island
Western Port from French Island.
A map of Victoria, Australia, with a mark indicating the location of Western Port
A map of Victoria, Australia, with a mark indicating the location of Western Port
Western Port
Location in Victoria
Map of Western Port
LocationSouthern Victoria
Coordinates38°22′S 145°20′E / 38.367°S 145.333°E / -38.367; 145.333
TypeSaline, Permanent, Natural
Primary inflowsBunyip River, Lang Lang River, Bass River, Cardinia Creek
Primary outflowsBass Strait
Basin countriesAustralia
Max. length263 km (163 mi)
Surface area680 km2 (260 sq mi)
Average depth6 m (20 ft)
Max. depth25 m (82 ft)
Surface elevation0 m (0 ft)
Frozennever
IslandsPhillip Island, French Island, Quail Island, Churchill Island
SettlementsHastings, Tooradin, San Remo, Cowes
Designated15 December 1982
Reference no.267[1]

Western Port, (Boonwurrung: Warn Marin) commonly but unofficially known as Western Port Bay, is a large tidal bay in southern Victoria, Australia, opening into Bass Strait. It is the second largest bay in the state. Geographically, it is dominated by two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. At the time it was renamed, its position was west of other known ports and bays, but Western Port has become something of a misnomer as it lies just to the east of the larger Port Phillip and the city of Melbourne. It is visited by Australian fur seals, whales and dolphins, as well as many migratory waders and seabirds. It is listed under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international significance.[2]

The area around the bay and the two main islands were originally part of the Boonwurrung nation's territory prior to European settlement. Western Port was first seen by Europeans in 1798 when an exploration crew in a whaleboat led by George Bass, journeyed south from Sydney to explore Australia's south eastern coastline. Due in most part to a lack of food, the expedition was halted, spending two weeks in Western Port before returning to Sydney. As it was the most westerly charted point at the time, it was named Western Port.

The bay is home to the three Marine National Parks—French Island, Churchill Island and Yaringa,[3] while the land adjacent to the north is largely used for farming purposes including cattle and wineries. Today the bay is mostly used for recreation; however, there is also a military base (HMAS Cerberus), shipping and oil production facilities adjoining the bay. Western Port is around one hour from Melbourne by car and a small number of holiday villages with sandy swimming beaches lie on its shores.

  1. ^ "Western Port". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Australian Wetland Database, Ramsar wetlands: Western Port overview". Australian Government: Department of the Environment. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  3. ^ Western Port Marine National Parks (PDF), Parks Victoria, December 2003, retrieved 24 February 2011