Cape du Couedic

Description

Cape du Couedic is located 96 km southwest of the municipal seat of Kingscote at the most southwesterly point of the Kangaroo Island coast. It is the termination for a pair of coastlines - the western coastline extending from Cape Borda in the north and the southern coastline extending from Cape Willoughby in the east. It is described as "a narrow promontory about 1 mile long" (i.e. 1 nmi) and that "its SW face slopes to the sea whereas its N and S sides are steep."

Formation, geology & oceanography

Cape du Couedic was formed when the sea reached its present level 7,500 years ago after sea levels started to rise at the start of the Holocene. The cliff line which includes Cape du Couedic consists of a metamorphic rock belonging to the Kanmantoo group bedrock called Middleton Sandstone. The water adjoining Cape du Couedic drops to depths ranging between 20 m to 30 m at the base of its cliff face.

History

Aboriginal use

Aboriginal sites have been identified by the South Australian Museum at Cape du Couedic. As of 1999, radiocarbon dating of material recovered via archaeological excavation from sites at Cape du Couedic and Rocky River suggest Aboriginal presence in the western end of Kangaroo Island from approximately 7,500 years BP to as recent as 350–400 years BP.

European discovery

Cape du Couedic was named in January 1803 by the Baudin expedition of 1800-03 in the memory of Charles Louis Chevalier du Couëdic de Kergoualer (1740–1780), a French naval officer, who commanded the frigate La Surveilante and who died in 1780 as the result of wounds received in the action of 6 October 1779 against HMS Quebec.

Navigation aid

The loss of both Loch Vennachar and Loch Sloy convinced the Marine Board of South Australia to argue for the bringing forward of a plan that it recommended in 1902 to build a lighthouse at Cape du Couedic. Its view was that the loss of both ships could have been avoided if a lighthouse had been operating at Cape du Couedic. Construction commenced in 1907 and the light was officially lit on 27 June 1909.

Protected area status

Cape du Couedic is currently located within the protected area known as the Flinders Chase National Park. As of 2012, the waters surrounding its shores are part of a combined restricted access and sanctuary zone located within the boundaries of the Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park.

Climate

| Jan record high C = | Feb record high C = | Mar record high C = | Apr record high C = | May record high C = | Jun record high C = | Jul record high C = | Aug record high C = | Sep record high C = | Oct record high C = | Nov record high C = | Dec record high C = | year record high C = | Jan avg record high C = | Feb avg record high C = | Mar avg record high C = | Apr avg record high C = | May avg record high C = | Jun avg record high C = | Jul avg record high C = | Aug avg record high C = | Sep avg record high C = | Oct avg record high C = | Nov avg record high C = | Dec avg record high C = | year avg record high C = | Jan avg record low C = | Feb avg record low C = | Mar avg record low C = | Apr avg record low C = | May avg record low C = | Jun avg record low C = | Jul avg record low C = | Aug avg record low C = | Sep avg record low C = | Oct avg record low C = | Nov avg record low C = | Dec avg record low C = | year avg record low C = | Jan record low C = | Feb record low C = | Mar record low C = | Apr record low C = | May record low C = | Jun record low C = | Jul record low C = | Aug record low C = | Sep record low C = | Oct record low C = | Nov record low C = | Dec record low C = | year record low C =

References

References

1. {{Cite rowlett. sa
2. "Search results for 'Cape du Couedic' with the following datasets selected - 'NPW and Conservation Reserve Boundaries', 'Suburbs and Localities' and 'Gazetteer'". South Australian government.
3. "The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs". Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia.
4. {{cite enroute. 175. 2017. 212
5. "A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 1990". Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia.
6. Fairclough, Martin C. (December 2007). "KINGSCOTE Special 1:250 000 geological map". Government of South Australia, DMITRE.
7. "Here to stay for our children and grandchildren : a natural resources management plan for the Kangaroo Island region 2009". Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board.
8. (1999). "Flinders Chase National Park, Kelly Hill Conservation Park, Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area and Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area Management Plans". Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs.
9. "A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 1990". Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia.
10. Robinson, A. C.. (1996). "South Australia's offshore islands". Australian Heritage Commission.
11. "Lighthouse, Cape Du Couedic Rd, Parndana, SA, Australia". Department of the Environment.
12. (12 May 1906). "Lighthouse for Cape Couedie". The Register (Adelaide, SA).
13. (1999). "Flinders Chase National Park, Kelly Hill Conservation Park, Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area and Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area Management Plans". Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs.
14. "Western Kangaroo Island Park Management plan summary". Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
15. "Climate Data Online".