The Lawrence Rocks are a group of two rocky islets, 6.8 ha and 1.5 ha in area, with an associated reef, 2.4 km south-east of Point Danger in western Victoria, Australia, and about 6 km south-east of the city of Portland.[3] Geologically, the group is formed from the remnants of an extinct volcano, with the islets composed of basalt and tuff.[4]
![]() Lawrence Rocks rocky islets in Western Victoria | |
![]() ![]() Lawrence Rocks | |
Etymology | Captain Effingham Lawrence[1][2] |
---|---|
Geography | |
Location | Bass Strait |
Coordinates | 38°24′30″S 141°40′10″E |
Area | 7 ha (17 acres)[3] |
Length | 800 m (2600 ft)[3] |
Width | 50 m (160 ft)[3] |
Highest elevation | 90 m (300 ft)[3] |
Administration | |
Australia | |
State | Victoria |
The islets were sighted by Lieutenant James Grant on 5 December 1800 from the survey brig HMS Lady Nelson and named[1] for Captain Effingham Lawrence,[2] one of the Elder Brethren of Trinity House.
The rocks are protected as a nature reserve and are the site of a breeding colony of Australasian gannets, the overspill from which led to the establishment of a sister colony at Point Danger.[5] The group has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA), because it supports over 10% of the world population of Australasian gannets, being used by over 6000 birds.[6] [7] Other birds recorded on the rocks, and likely to breed there, include little penguins, black-faced cormorants, crested terns, silver gulls, sooty oystercatchers and small numbers of Cape gannets. The rocks are also used as a haul-out site by Australian fur seals.[4] Seal hunting was conducted on the island in the 19th century.[8]
Islands and islets of Victoria, Australia | |
---|---|
Near East Gippsland | |
Near Corner Inlet | |
Near Wilsons Promontory | |
In Western Port | |
In Port Phillip | |
Near Portland Bay | |
In rivers | |
|
![]() | This article about a location in Victoria, Australia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |