Wedge Island – South Australia
Wedge Island is a privately owned island, with an area of 18 km2, in south-eastern Australia. It lies between the southern tips of the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas in South Australia at the entrance to Spencer Gulf.
It was originally settled in the mid-1800s as a farm for breeding horses for the British Indian Army.
There is a lighthouse at the south-east end, which is the highest point of the island. The lighthouse was first lit on 29 March 1911 and rebuilt in 1970.
There is also an airstrip on the island as well as a jetty.
Wedge Island is not permanently inhabited, but has buildings used for holiday accommodation and as a base for local and offshore recreational fishing. It is also a dive site.
The endangered Woylie Brush-tailed Bettong has been introduced to the island.
Wedge Island (947 ha)
In May 1983 eleven Woylies from the South Australian Department of Environment and Land Management (SADENR) captive breeding colony at Monarto were introduced to the island. Systematic repeatable monitoring was carried out for the first time in May 1993, 10 years after the original introduction, although trapping had occurred twice before on a less formalised basis. In 1993, 120 trap nights resulted in 59 captures, 41 males and 17 females (one escaped before sexing), almost 50% trap success. This male bias was also evident in the results of the two previous trapping efforts.
Click here to learn more about Bettongs
Some Maritime History
In 1862, Alfred Charles Webling of the Marine Survey Department of South Australia on board of HMS Beatrice, re surveyed the coast north of Point Lowly to Port Augusta and prepared a detailed official report. In his, Nautical Description of Port Augusta 1862, he provided an excellent account of the early days of shipping in Spencer Gulf: “It has been custom hitherto for vessels bound for Port Augusta to proceed first to Port Adelaide and there pick up a pilot for Spencer Gulf and Port Augusta. The outward-bound vessels frequently leave their pilots at Wedge Island, at the mouth of Spencer Gulf. Tugs can be procured from Port Adelaide to which place a mail goes overland once a week. The steamer trading to Port Augusta frequently tows vessels up or down through the estuary on her trips backwards and forwards.”
Shipwreck 1900
1 February steel ship Glenpark, 1959 tons, struck a rock off Wedge Island, with a cargo of wheat from Port Germein. She sank rapidly. The crew was rescued by the barque Elda and were landed at Port Victoria.
26 February schooner Vale, with a cargo of wheat from Sceale Bay, developed a leak during heavy seas. Some cargo was jettisoned to lighten her, and an attempt was made to reach Wedge Island. Vale was abandoned off Cape Borda and crew reached safety on Wedge Island, before setting out again for Edithburgh.
