Nobby Islet

Nobby Islet is approximately {{convert|50|km|abbr=off}} south-west of Kingscote and about {{convert|9.2|km|abbr=off}} east of Point Ellen in Vivonne Bay and within {{convert|200|m|abbr=off}} of the coast at Seal Bay. The islet is reported as being cylindrical in shape with almost vertical sides and finished with a flat top. It is {{convert|75|m|abbr=off}} high and has an area of {{convert|12|ha|abbr=off}}.

The islet is difficult to access due to its location in shallow water adjoining a cliffed coastline that exposed to rolling seas and the fragile condition of its vertical cliff faces. A survey carried out by the responsible government agency in 1996 used a helicopter to access the islet's summit.

Nobby Islet may have been formed as recently as 6000 years ago due to the relatively shallow depth of the water surrounding it.{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2=Canty, P. |author3=Mooney, T. |author4=Rudduck, P.|pages=11|year=1996}} As of 1996, the islet is reported as appearing to be entirely composed of a limestone known as Bridgewater Formation calcarenite. It is also observed that there was recent evidence of rockfalls due to the crumbly consistency of the calcarenite and that debris cones were present on its relatively sheltered northern side while any collapsed materials on its southern face had been washed away by wave action. The islet's summit was also reported as being 'gently terraced by resistant layers of calcrete that retain bands of sandy soil'. Nobby Islet is technically a sea stack. The islet is located in waters of a depth of about {{convert|5.5|m|abbr=off}} that partially conceal wave-cut platforms and that are subject to rolling seas.{{Citation | author1=South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors | title=The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs | publication-date=1985 | publisher=Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia | pages= Chart 14|isbn=978-0-7243-7603-2 }}

As of 1996, the cliff faces were relatively un-vegetated. The islet's summit was occupied by clumps of Coast tussock-grass with a fringing shrubland dominated by Coast Daisy-bush. The 25 other species were identified including Dry land Tea-tree, Coast Beard-heath, Common correa, Cotton bush, Thyme Riceflower, pointed twinleaf, Black-anther Flax Lily, Common Wallaby Grass and Downy Dodder-laurel. The only animal life observed in 1996 was an Osprey nest located on the islet's northern side, white-faced storm petrels which were nesting in shallow burrows located over the entire summit and two species of lizard - the marbled gecko and the bull skink.{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2=Canty, P. |author3=Mooney, T. |author4=Rudduck, P.|pages=298–300|year=1996}}

Nobby Islet originally obtained protected area status as a fauna reserve under the former Fauna Conservation Act 1964 and then as a fauna conservation reserve declared under the Crown Lands Act 1929-1966 on 16 March 1967.{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2=Canty, P. |author3=Mooney, T. |author4=Rudduck, P.|pages=140|year=1996}}{{cite web|title=Crown Lands Act, 1929–1966: Fauna Conservation Reserves Dedicated|url=http://www8.austlii.edu.au/au/other/sa_gazette/1967/11.pdf |website=The South Australian Government Gazette|publisher=Government of South Australia|access-date=5 February 2018|pages=961–962|date=16 March 1967}} Since 1971, the waters surrounding the islet have been part of the Seal Bay Aquatic Reserve.{{cite web|title=Summary of SA Marine Protected Areas by Type (see 'SA Reserve List' tab)|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/59d8b000-6fc9-4470-b0ba-517ba3aeae44/files/sa-capad-2002-me.xls|publisher=Australian Government - Department of the Environment|access-date=5 October 2014|date=10 February 2003}}{{Citation| author1=Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA)| title=Aquatic Reserves: SEAL BAY - BALES BEACH| publication-date=2007| publisher=Primary Industries and Regions South Australia| url=http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/65412/14_15._AqResWeb.pdf| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919012307/http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/65412/14_15._AqResWeb.pdf| archive-date=19 September 2015| df=dmy-all}} As of 1996, it was described as being included in Seal Bay Conservation Park.{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2=Canty, P. |author3=Mooney, T. |author4=Rudduck, P.|pages=147|year=1996}} As of 2012, the waters surrounding its shores are part of a restricted access zone located within the boundaries of the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park.{{cite web|title= Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park Management Plan 2012|url= http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/68e0453b-376d-4429-a4dd-a11700a21e42/mp-gen-17southernkangarooisland-managementplan.pdf |publisher=Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources|access-date=13 May 2014|pages=24/26|year=2012}}

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{{Kangaroo Island}}

{{Islands of South Australia |state=collapsed}}

{{coord|36|00|S|137|17|E|display=title|region:AU_type:isle_source:GNS-enwiki}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nobby Island}}

Category:Islands of South Australia

Category:Uninhabited islands of Australia

Category:Kangaroo Island

Category:Stacks of Australia