Local Government
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Region
Kimberley
Prince Regent Nature Reserve S end of Port Nelson
Careening Bay & Mermaid BoabTree
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Kimberley
Constructed from 1820
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 20 Feb 1997 | ||
Philip Parker King careened HMC Mermaid on the beach in 1820. His crew inscribed the date and name of the Cutter on a large boab tree which is situated approximately 60 metres from ISHWM. Parker King and his crew camped here for 17 days in 1820. Water was obtained from a creek 150 metres ESE of the boab tree (approximately 300 metres upstream from the beach). Lieutenant King's expeditions along the Western Australia north west coastline were extremely important, as it was on his information that a number of further expeditions were based.
This section of the coast is uninhabited and has very limited access. It is part of a ria coastline of extreme complexity with a high rugged hinterland. There are many inshore and offshore islands. The shores are mostly rocky, but there are sandy beaches in many of the bays, as in Careening Bay. Some of the bays are fringed with mangroves. On the beach, approximately 60 metres from ISHWM (International Standard High Water Mark) is a large Boab tree, partly overgrown with vines, and crowded by other trees. Carved on the trunk is the inscription HMC Mermaid 1820. The carving is divided into two sections where the tree divides. It is believed the the lettering dimensions have expanded with the growth of the tree.
Site only
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| WINC . | 1987 | ||
| JS Battye; "Western Australia a history from its discovery to the inauguration of the Commonweath". | 1978 |
Historic Site
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | Transport\Communications | Water: Other |
| Present Use | Transport\Communications | Water: Other |
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