Point Labatt
{{About| the headland in South Australia| the associated conservation park |Point Labatt Conservation Park}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = other
| name = Point Labatt
| state = SA
| image = 10 Point Labatt CP 04.JPG
| caption = Point Labatt as viewed from the south
| elevation = 60
| elevation_footnotes =DENR, 1995, page 1
| coordinates = {{coord|33|9|9|S|134|15|39|E|display=inline,title}}
| coord_ref =
| dist1 =
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}}
Point Labatt is a headland located on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in the Australian state of
South Australia about {{convert|39|km|abbr=off}} south by east of Streaky Bay. It is notable as one of the largest Australian mainland breeding sites for Australian sea lions. The land and the sea adjoining Point Labatt is part of three protected areas - the Point Labatt Conservation Park, the Point Labatt Aquatic Reserve and the West Coast Bays Marine Park.
Description
Point Labatt is located in the locality of Sceale Bay on the west side of the Calca Peninsula, a small peninsula on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula, at a distance of about {{convert|40|km|abbr=off}} South by east of Streaky Bay and about {{convert|440|km|abbr=off}} west-northwest of Adelaide. When viewed from a platform such as a ship, Point Labatt appears as the start of a line of uninterrupted cliffs starting at a height of {{convert|60|m|abbr=off}} that runs in a south easterly direction and that rises to a height of {{convert|135|m|abbr=off}} at Cape Radstock, the north head of Anxious Bay.{{cite enroute|175|2017|178}}DMH, 1985, chart 41{{cite web |title=Search result for "Point Labatt (PT)" (Record no SA0038119) with the following layers selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and " Place names (gazetteer)" |url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/# |work=Property Location Browse r |publisher=Government of South Australia |access-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012010923/http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/ |archive-date=12 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Formation, geology and oceanography
Point Labatt as a headland 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.Robinson, 1989-90, page 26.
Point Labatt and the adjoining cliff line consists of a calcarenite known as the Bridgewater formation overlying a red granite known as the Hiltaba Suite. The cliff top are finished with a soil consisting generally of a thin layer of calcareous material.
The water adjoining the base of Point Labatt drops to a depth of {{convert|50|m|abbr=off}} within a distance of {{convert|300|m|abbr=off}} of its shore.DMH, 1985, chart 39
Naming
Point Labatt was named as Labatt Point in 1908 after Mr. J. B. Labatt, the Assistant Engineer of Harbours in the South Australian Government.{{cite news|title= The Latest Place Naming|url= http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58938352|access-date=3 October 2014|newspaper=The Register|date=17 September 1908|page=6}}
Flora and fauna
=Flora=
The flora present at Point Labatt consists of a combination of both low shrubland and low open shrubland. The low shrubland features the following plant species: Ribbed thryptomene, Coastal Daisybush, Melaleuca lanceolata, Triodia irritans and Lepidosperma concavum. The low open shrubland features the following plant species: Melaleuca halmaturorum, Calocephalus brownii, Maireana oppositifolia, Grey Saltbush and Nitre Bush.DENR, 1995, page 3
=Fauna=
The coastline immediately adjoining the point supports a colony of Australia sea lions which is notable as being one of the largest mainland breeding sites for this species in Australia. Other species of Pinniped sighted at Point Labatt include Australian fur seal and New Zealand fur seal. Other mammal species possibly include the western grey kangaroo and the euro while known to occur on the CaIca Peninsula, but have not been recorded in the vicinity of Point Labatt as of 1995. The following feral mammal species have been recorded at the locality: cats, foxes and rabbits.
As of 1995, the following bird species have recorded as being present at Point Labatt: cormorants, gulls, terns, swallows, and kestrels.
As of 1995, the following reptile species are recorded as being present: the shingle back lizard and a species of dragon lizard.
History
=Aboriginal use=
As of 1995, the extent of use of Point Labatt and adjoining land by the Nauo people, the Aboriginal people who lived in the locality prior to European colonisation is not known.DENR, 1995, page 5
=European use=
The land that adjoins Point Labatt was used for agricultural purposes until it was donated in 1972 by Ron, Myra and Ellen Freeman for the purpose of creating a protected area for the Australian sea lion colony. The ocean immediately adjoining the point was a popular site for snorkelling with Australian sea lions prior to 1988.{{cite news|last1=Meares|first1=Pietre|title=Two-year safari around Australia followed the Sun|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45654330|access-date=3 October 2014|publisher=The Australian Women's Weekly|date=11 September 1974}} Point Labatt is considered to an important tourist destination within the District Council of Streaky Bay, particularly as it and Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island are the only two places where Australian sea-lions can be easily observed in their natural habitat.DENR, 1995, page 6{{cite web|title=Point Labatt Sealion Drive|url=http://www.streakybay.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=297|publisher=Streaky Bay Rural Transaction & Visitor Information Centre|access-date=6 October 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140130020959/http://www.streakybay.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=297
| archive-date = 30 January 2014 }}
Protected area status
The point is associated with three protected areas. The first is the Point Labatt Conservation Park. The second is the Point Labatt Aquatic Reserve which protects the body of water immediately the south west of the conservation park's coastal frontage.PIRSA, 2007 The third is the West Coast Bays Marine Park which consists of a restricted access zone immediately the point.DEWNR, 2012, page 24 of 26DENR. 1995, page 5{{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}}
The point, some coastline to its immediate east and west as well as the adjoining waters with a total area of {{convert|147|ha|abbr=off}} has been listed as a "wetland of national importance" in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia since 1996.Eyles et al, 2001, pages 73 & 77
Gallery
Image: 10 Point Labatt CP 05.JPG |Looking east from visitors’ observation area at Point Labatt.
Image: 10 Point Labatt CP 02.JPG |Australian sea lions on beach at Point Labatt.
Image: 10 Point Labatt CP 03.JPG | Australian sea lions on beach at Point Labatt.
Image: Neophoca cinerea.JPG|Australian Sea Lion
Citations and references
=Citations=
{{reflist|30em}}
=References=
{{Portal|Wetlands}}
- {{Citation | author1=South Australia. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Far West District | author2=South Australia. National Parks and Wildlife Service | title=Point Labatt Conservation Park management plan, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia | publication-date=1995 | publisher=Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources | url= http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/0b7252bb-464f-4738-a932-9e4f00b1e4fd/PARKS_PDFS_POINT_LABATT_CP_MP.pdf }}
- {{Citation | author1=South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors (DMH)| 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 |isbn=978-0-7243-7603-2}}
- {{Citation | author1=Eyles, Kathy | author2=Larmour, Geoff | author3=Young, Sarah | author4=Australia. Environment Australia | author5=Natural Heritage Trust (Australia). National Wetlands Program | title=A Directory of important wetlands in Australia | url= http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/18f0bb21-b67c-4e99-a155-cb5255398568/files/directory.pdf |publication-date=2001 | publisher=Environment Australia | edition=3rd | isbn=978-0-642-54721-7 }}
- {{Citation | author1=Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA)| title=Aquatic Reserve: Point Labatt| publication-date=2007| publisher=Primary Industries and Regions South Australia|url=http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/65425/1._AqResWeb.pdf}}
- {{cite book|title=A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 1990|date=1999 |publisher=Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia|location=Adelaide, SA|isbn=0-7308-5862-6 |url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/fb13b9bf-5c8e-445c-9c3c-a1c600c14815/ki-biological-survey-climate-geology-landuse-gen.pdf|editor=Robinson, A. C. |editor2=Armstrong, D. M.|access-date=1 May 2014}}
- {{cite web|title=West Coast Bays Marine Park Management Plan 2012|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/58c0f500-efcf-437d-a6a2-a117009dc7c3/mp-gen-3westcoastbays-managementplan.pdf|publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR)|access-date=3 January 2015}}
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{{Wetlands}}
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