Bruny Island (43°22′S, 147°17′E) is an island off the south-eastern coast of Tasmania, from which it is separated by the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Storm Bay is located to the island's northeast. Both the island and the channel are named after French explorer Bruni d'Entrecasteaux. Its traditional Aboriginal name was Alonnah Lunawanna, which survives as the name of two island settlements, Alonnah and Lunawanna.
Geography
Geologically, Bruny Island is actually comprised of two islands - North Bruny and South Bruny - that are joined by a long, narrow sandy isthmus. The holiday village of Dennes Point is located in North Bruny, while South Bruny is the site of the towns of Alonnah, Adventure Bay and Lunawanna.
Outside its settlements the island is covered in grazing fields and large tracts of dry eucalyptus forest. Inland forests continue to be logged, but other large sections - mostly along the southeastern coast - are preserved as the South Bruny National Park. While the seaward side of the island features two long beaches - Adventure Bay and Cloudy Bay - it is for the most part extremely rugged, with cliffs of dolerite that tower over 200 metres above sea level, and which are amongst the highest sea cliffs in Australia. Bruny's channel side is far more sheltered and a favourite fishing and recreational boating area for local and interstate visitors.
Access to the island is by vehicular ferry, funded by the State Government. Since 1954, four vessels have operated the Bruny Island Ferry service between the island and Kettering, Tasmania on the mainland. The service is currently plied by the Mirambeena, which is unusual for using a Voith-Schneider propulsion system rather than a conventional propeller.
History
Bruny Island was originally inhabited by the Aborigines until European arrival, although there is still a large community of people who identify as Aboriginal. Abel Tasman made a landing in the vicinity of the island in November 1642. In 1773 Tobias Furneaux, who was exploring the coastline with James Cook, anchored his vessel off the coast. On 26 January 1777 Cook sailed the Resolution and the Discovery into Adventure Bay and stayed there for two days. Cook carved his initials in a tree that was destroyed in a 1905 bushfire and is now commemorated by a plaque. In 1788 and again in 1792 William Bligh anchored in Adventure Bay. The island itself however is named after the French explorer Bruni d'Entrecasteaux who explored the Channel region in 1792. It was known as Bruni Island until 1918, when the spelling was changed to Bruny. Since then the island has become known as a holiday location with surfing beaches, National Parks and historical sites. In more recent history the Bruny Island was the site of a land transfer by the state Government to local Aboriginal people.[2]
Tourism
A key contributor to Bruny Island's economy is its growing tourism industry. Being home to the South Bruny National Park, tourism on the island centres around the showcase of its natural assets. [3][4]
Local island resident Robert Pennicott operates Bruny Island Charters which operates eco-cruises from Adventure Bay around the coastline of the national park to the point where the Tasman Sea meets the Southern Ocean [5]. Pennicott and his company Bruny Island Charters are also the founders of the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund in partnership with Tasman Island Cruises and WILDCARE Inc. [6]
Wildlife tours are also operated by local biologist specialising in Australian flora and fauna. [7]
The Cape Bruny Lighthouse (1838) is an iconic Australian lighthouse and was the oldest continuous lighthouse under operation by the Commonwealth. Now out of service, it has been transferred to the Tasmanian Government and is part of the Labillardiere National Park. [8]
The island is home to Australia's southernmost licensed pub, The Bruny Island Hotel[9] and Bruny Island Premium Wines located at Lunawanna is Australia's most southern vineyard.
Bruny Island's tourism operators are increasingly being awarded at a state level. Bruny Island Charters has won a number of awards, being recognised in two categories at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards 2006 [10] and also at the Telstra Business Awards in 2008. The Bruny Island Explorer Cottages won an award for their accommodation at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards in 2007. [11]
Townships
Rock formation off the coast of Bruny Island.
The main areas of Bruny Island include:
The island is also home to the South Bruny National Park.
References
External links
Coordinates: 43°22′S, 147°17′E
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