Perth, Western Australia hosts a variety of unique and biologically diverse habitats found nowhere else on Earth. Many of these habitats include islands. Islands provide habitat and safe refuge for endangered native fauna as they are free of invasive species and the pressures of human development. Coastal islands of this region heavily feature limestone as their base structure, while the inland islands are predominantly made of serpentine soil.
Coastal islands
The coastal islands of the Perth metropolitan region are:
| Name |
Location |
Locality |
Size (ha) |
Distance from mainland (km) |
Notes |
| Rottnest Island |
32°00′22″S 115°36′46″E / 32.00611°S 115.61278°E / -32.00611; 115.61278 (Rottnest Island) |
– |
1,900 |
17 |
Home to the largest population of quokkas in the world. |
| Garden Island |
32°12′18″S 115°40′24″E / 32.20500°S 115.67333°E / -32.20500; 115.67333 (Garden Island (Western Australia)) |
– |
1,200 |
2.2 (connected by the Garden Island Causeway) |
Home to a tammar wallaby population. One of the Royal Australian Navy's main bases is also located on the island. |
| Carnac Island |
32°07′30″S 115°39′46″E / 32.12500°S 115.66278°E / -32.12500; 115.66278 (Carnac Island) |
– |
19 |
6.9 |
High abundance of tiger snakes. |
| Penguin Island |
32°18′23″S 115°41′20″E / 32.30639°S 115.68889°E / -32.30639; 115.68889 (Penguin Island (Western Australia)) |
Shoalwater |
12.5 |
0.7 |
Home to the largest population of fairy penguins in the world. |
| Seal Island |
32°17′36″S 115°41′19″E / 32.29333°S 115.68861°E / -32.29333; 115.68861 (Seal Island (Shoalwater, Western Australia)) |
Shoalwater |
1.4 |
0.9 |
Home to a small population of Australian sea lions. |
| Bird Island |
32°16′42″S 115°41′17″E / 32.27833°S 115.68806°E / -32.27833; 115.68806 (Bird Island (Western Australia)) |
Peron |
0.8 |
0.4 |
Part of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. |
| Shag Island |
32°17′44.7″S 115°41′30.2″E / 32.295750°S 115.691722°E / -32.295750; 115.691722 (Shag Island (Western Australia)) |
Shoalwater |
0.4 |
0.85 |
Part of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. |
| Little Island |
31°48′44.4″S 115°42′32″E / 31.812333°S 115.70889°E / -31.812333; 115.70889 (Little Island (Western Australia)) |
Hillarys |
0.1 |
1.9 |
Part of the Marmion Marine Park. |
| Trigg Island |
31°52′33.1″S 115°45′03.6″E / 31.875861°S 115.751000°E / -31.875861; 115.751000 (Trigg Island) |
Trigg |
0.1 |
|
Part of the Marmion Marine Park. |
Satellite islands of Rottnest Island
| Name |
Location |
Size (m2) |
Distance from Rottnest Island (m) |
Notes |
| Dyer Island |
32°01′07.8″S 115°33′0.35″E / 32.018833°S 115.5500972°E / -32.018833; 115.5500972 (Dyer Island Island (Western Australia)) |
7,000 |
730 |
Australian sea lions sun themselves on the northern beach. |
| Green Island |
32°01′00.5″S 115°29′57.1″E / 32.016806°S 115.499194°E / -32.016806; 115.499194 (Green Island Island (Western Australia)) |
1,800 |
60 |
Lies within the Kitson Point snorkelling trail. |
| Wallace Island |
32°00′44.6″S 115°33′18.8″E / 32.012389°S 115.555222°E / -32.012389; 115.555222 (Wallace Island Island (Western Australia)) |
1,300 |
140 |
Known for seabirds resting on the island. |
| Parakeet Island |
31°59′14.9″S 115°30′51.3″E / 31.987472°S 115.514250°E / -31.987472; 115.514250 (Dyer Island Island (Western Australia)) |
800 |
30 |
Lies within a popular snorkelling area near Parakeet Bay. |
Inland islands
Inland islands include those located in the Swan River, Canning River, and Beeliar Wetlands.
| Name |
Location |
Locality |
Size (ha) |
Notes |
| Heirisson Island |
31°57′58″S 115°52′50″E / 31.96611°S 115.88056°E / -31.96611; 115.88056 (Heirisson Island) |
East Perth |
28.5 |
Home to a small population of western grey kangaroos. |
| Kuljak Island |
31°56′25.83″S 115°54′55.92″E / 31.9405083°S 115.9155333°E / -31.9405083; 115.9155333 (Kuljack Island) |
Ascot |
28 |
The surrounding wetlands are a Bush Forever site. |
| Lake Island |
31°45′10.9″S 115°47′22.9″E / 31.753028°S 115.789694°E / -31.753028; 115.789694 (Lake Island) |
Joondalup |
14 |
Crucial nesting site for the endangered Carnaby's black cockatoo. |
| Malup Island |
31°44′09.5″S 115°47′00.8″E / 31.735972°S 115.783556°E / -31.735972; 115.783556 (Malup Island) |
Joondalup |
11 |
Part of Yellagonga Regional Park. |
| Ron Courtney Island |
31°55′15.8″S 115°56′28.5″E / 31.921056°S 115.941250°E / -31.921056; 115.941250 (Ron Courtney Island) |
Ascot |
1.6 |
Good fishing spot for catching mulloway, tailor and black bream. |
| Monger Island |
31°55′55.5″S 115°49′24.9″E / 31.932083°S 115.823583°E / -31.932083; 115.823583 (Monger Island) |
Wembley |
1.3 |
Created in the 1960s as a bird refuge. |
| Elizabeth Quay Island |
31°57′33″S 115°51′24″E / 31.95928°S 115.85654°E / -31.95928; 115.85654 (Elizabeth Quay Island) |
Perth |
0.6 |
Artificial islet in Elizabeth Quay with playground and kiosk. |
| Jualbup Island |
31°57′32.1″S 115°48′41.4″E / 31.958917°S 115.811500°E / -31.958917; 115.811500 (Jualbup Island) |
Shenton Park |
0.3 |
Used as a feeding, resting and breeding site for a variety of native water birds. |
See also
