Phillip Island (Norfolk Island)

Phillip Island is an uninhabited island located at coord|29|07|S|167|57|E|, 6 km south of Norfolk Island in the Southwest Pacific, and part of the Norfolk Island group. It was named in 1788 by Lieutenant Philip Gidley King for Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales. It is part of the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. It is included in Norfolk Island National Park, as is neighbouring Nepean Island, and about 10 per cent of Norfolk Island proper. Phillip Island has an area of 190 ha, measuring 2.1 km from west to east and 1.95 km from north to south, with the highest point, Jacky Jacky, 280 m above sea level. It is roughly shaped like a hairdryer with the nozzle pointing east. The island is of volcanic origin, made of basaltic tuff and lava dating from the Miocene epoch. Phillip Island is included on the Register of the National Estate.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation of Phillip Island was devastated due to the introduction, during Norfolk's penal colony era, of pest animals such as pigs, goats and rabbits. This caused massive erosion giving the island a reddish brown colour as viewed from Norfolk due to the absence of topsoil. However, the pigs and goats were removed during the early 20th century, and rabbits were exterminated by 1988. Since then, natural regeneration of native species and weeds, and remediation work by park staff, has brought some improvement to Phillip Island's environment. Reforestation is currently underway. Considering most of the island's surface was completely devoid of vegetation before rabbit control, the rate of vegetation development and soil formation is extraordinary. Despite the environmental degradation, the lack of feral cats and rats on the island has allowed some animals to persist there after having become extinct on Norfolk.

Phillip island has a vascular flora of about 80 species. Two terrestrial reptiles, a gecko ("Christinus guentheri"), and a skink ("Cyclodina lichenigera"), have been recorded. It is an important breeding site for 12 species of seabirds, including the Providence Petrel, Kermadec Petrel, White-necked Petrel, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Australasian Gannet, Sooty Tern (known locally as the Whale Bird), Red-tailed Tropicbird and Grey Ternlet. The Sooty Tern has traditionally been subject to seasonal egg harvesting.

References

* Anon. (2000). " [http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/publications/pubs/norfolk_plan.pdf Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden. Plans of Management] ". Environment Australia: Canberra. ISBN 0-642-54667-3
* Hoare, Merval. (1974). "Rambler's Guide to Norfolk Island". Pacific Publications: Sydney. ISBN 0-85807-020-0

External links

* [http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/norfolk/phillip.html Phillip Island] Department of the Environment and Water Resources
* [http://www.norfolkisland.com.au/environment/geological_origins.cfm Geological origins] , Norfolk Island Tourism