Eclipse Island (Western Australia)


Eclipse Island is a barren island in Western Australia, due south of Albany, and south of the nearest point of the mainland coast, which is Cave Point on the southern coast of Torndirrup Peninsula. Eclipse Island Lighthouse is located near the centre of the island. Nearby South West Island contains Western Australia's southernmost landmass.

Naming

The island was named for an observation on 28 September 1791 by Captain George Vancouver "observed this Wednesday morning a partial solar eclipse. He went on the name the barren rocky cluster of isles."
The island supports a large colony of introduced rabbits and another common introduced pest the arum lily has also been introduced to the island in the past.
The island is composed of granite and has a total area of and was declared a Class 1A Nature Reserve in 2000. It is a waypoint for the Volvo Ocean Race.
The island has a landing stage that is above the water line to service the lighthouse which also houses Western Australia's most southerly weather recording station. In 1950 four families were living on the island.

Birds

The island has been classified as an Important Bird Area because it has been reported as supporting over 1% of the world's breeding population of flesh-footed shearwaters and great-winged petrels. Other birds that are found on the island include wedge-tailed shearwaters, little shearwaters, Caspian terns and Pacific gulls.