- Cape Schanck, Victoria
Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Cape Schanck
state = vic
caption = Cape Schanck (view from atop the lighthouse)
lga = Shire of Mornington Peninsula
postcode = 3939
pop = 334 (2006)Census 2006 AUS | id = SSC25303 | name = Cape Schanck (State Suburb) | accessdate = 2007-10-01 | quick = on]
est =
elevation= 79
maxtemp = 16.9
mintemp = 11
rainfall = 751.2
stategov = Nepean
fedgov = Flinders
dist1 = 88
location1=Melbourne
dist2 = 15
location2= RosebudCape Schanck is a locality in
Melbourne , Victoria,Australia . It is the southernmost tip of theMornington Peninsula and separates the wild ocean waters ofBass Strait from the slightly calmer waters of Western Port.The most recognisable symbol of Cape Schanck is the
Cape Schanck Lighthouse . The lighthouse was built in 1859 and was the second lighthouse built in Victoria. [ [http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/VIC/Cape%20Schanck/Cape%20Schank%20Light.htm Cape Schanck Lighthouse] ] A prominent rock outcrop is Pulpit Rock and stands out at the very tip of the cape.Cape Schanck is also home to the
RACV Resort Cape Schanck which includes an eighteen hole golf course. British-Australian artistGeorgiana McCrae produced a lot of her paintings in Cape Schanck.History
The location is reputed to have been named after Captain Schanck (Schank), an English Navy captain and contemporary of
Matthew Flinders , [ [http://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/content/content.asp?cid=763&tid=763&tpid=396&sid=&spid=&cnid=1794 Mornington Peninsula Shire] ] who was also famous for designing the raised keel (or centreboard) used on naval vessels so as to allow navigation in shallow waters. One of the ships, the "Lady Nelson ", incorporating this design was used extensively in exploration of the southern coast of Australia from 1800.The "Lady Nelson" carried the party which first saw the twin peaks of
Mt Gambier and its nearby volcano named Mt Schanck, in honour of the keel designer. As it continued its voyage further east it passed a rocky headland which we now know as Cape Schanck.Cape Schanck Post Office opened around March 1879 and closed in 1962. Citation | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | accessdate = 2008-04-11 ]
In 1893 a steamship, the "
SS Alert ", sunk off the coast at Cape Schanck during a storm. It was rediscovered after 113 years on the ocean floor in June 2007.References and notes
External links
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