French Island National Park

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French Island National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)

Nearest town/city:	Melbourne
Coordinates:	38°16′44″S, 145°18′41″E
Area:	111 km²
Managing authorities:	Parks Victoria
Official site:	French Island National Park

French Island National Park is located on French Island on Western Port, Victoria, (Australia), 61 km southeast of Melbourne.

French Island is relatively isolated and undeveloped. There are no mains water, mains electricity, or medical services on the island. There is one small General Store and Post Office located on Tankerton Road about 3km from Tankerton Jetty. Many of the locals actively promote environmental tourism. French Island is an ideal spot to escape the trappings of modern life for a day or a week. There is a range of accommodation from camping, Bed and Breakfast, Guesthouse, to McLeod Eco Farm (former prison farm).

1 Access
2 Population
3 Natural Environment
4 Transport
5 Camping
6 History
7 External links

[edit] Access

There is easy access to the island by suburban train and ferry. Catch a train on the Frankston railway line to Frankston station; change trains to catch a diesel locomotive service on the Stony Point railway line to Stony Point, where it is a short walk along the jetty to catch the passenger ferry to Tankerton jetty on French Island. It is also possible to catch a passenger ferry from Cowes on Phillip Island.

[edit] Population

As of 2005 there are about 60 permanent residents on the Island with six children attending the Perseverance Primary School. In 1997 about 70 per cent of the Island was declared the French Island National Park, and is listed in the register of the National Estate.

[edit] Natural Environment

Habitats range from coastal mangroves, swamps, heath, grasslands and blue gum forests. Most koala populations on the mainland of Australia are affected by the chlamydia disease. French Island provides the world's most dense and disease free population of koalas, with regular transfer of excess koalas to repopulate diseased areas on the mainland. Shelter is provided for more than 100 species of bush orchids, and 260 species of birds. Significant species on the island include: King Quail, the endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, Fairy Tern, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Swamp Skink, Long-nosed Potoroo. The island is one of only two places in Victoria where the invasive red fox is not present, which has enabled the island to maintain a variety of indigenous species which have been devasted by the predator elsewhere including Phillip Island. However rabbits, feral cats, feral goats, feral pigs, Indian Mynahs and starlings pose a threat to the island's biodiversity.

[edit] Transport

As the only cars used on the island are by residents, the network of more than 40km of gravel roads and tracks are quiet and ideal for cycling. The island is generally flat or mildly undulating with the highest point being Mt Wellington (96 metres). Bicycles can be hired from the General Store, Macleod Eco Farm and Bayview. There is an abundance of walking tracks. Active pursuits include bushwalking, bird watching, horse riding, cycling, and as a base for deep sea fishing.

Two local tour companies, French Island Tours and French Island Eco Tours, can provide bus tours of the island by arrangement.

[edit] Camping

There is one free camping site in the National Park at Fairhaven, 4km up the coast road from Tankerton Jetty, where the ferry arrives from Stony Point. The camp site is set among trees near the beach, with one public toilet and a water tank. Other camping is available at "private sites" at Bayview and McLeod Eco Farm by arrangement.

French Island looking north along Clump road

[edit] History

Looking west over Western Port to Mornington Peninsula from the Coast road on French Island

According to Aboriginal tribal songs, the Bunarong Tribe lived and hunted on French Island, until they were massacred by a warring Gippsland tribe
April 1802 First discovered by Europeans when a French expedition from the ship La Naturaliste explored the area, naming it Ile de Francoise, since anglicised as French Island.
1847 First settled by William and John Gardner.
1880s Koalas introduced to the island.
1890s Establishment of several village settlements, under Government settlement programs. Planting of chicory and establishment of some 30 chicory kilns.
July 17, 1916 McLeod Prison Farm opens
1975 McLeod Prison Farm closes
July 1997 about 70 per cent of the island declared as part of the French Island National Park.
May 2002 waters directly north of French Island declared as French Island Marine National Park