French Island National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Nearest town/city:	Melbourne
Coordinates:	38°16′44″S, 145°18′41″E
Area:	111 km²
Managing authorities:	Parks Victoria
Official site:	French Island National Park

French Island National Park is located on French Island on Western Port, Victoria, (Australia), 61 km southeast of Melbourne. The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales, UK A national park is a reserve of land, usually declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. ... Image File history File links Locator_Dot. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (871x639, 91 KB) Map of French Island, Victoria, Australia I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The City of Melbournes coat of arms The central business district of Melbourne, viewed from the north Alternate meanings: Melbourne (disambiguation) Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 52,117 in the Central... Western Port looking west from French Island to the Mornington Peninsula Western Port (also known as Western Port Bay) is an inlet on the southern coast of Australia from Bass Strait and the Pacific Ocean, adjacent and to the east of Port Phillip on which is sited Melbourne, the capital... Capital Melbourne Government Const. ... The City of Melbournes coat of arms The central business district of Melbourne, viewed from the north Alternate meanings: Melbourne (disambiguation) Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 52,117 in the Central...

French Island is relatively isolated and undeveloped. There are no mains water, mains electricity, or medical services on the island. There is one small General Store and Post Office located on Tankerton Road about 3km from Tankerton Jetty. Many of the locals actively promote environmental tourism. French Island is an ideal spot to escape the trappings of modern life for a day or a week. There is a range of accommodation from camping, Bed and Breakfast, Guesthouse, to McLeod Eco Farm (former prison farm).

Access

There is easy access to the island by suburban train and ferry. Catch a train on the Frankston railway line to Frankston station; change trains to catch a diesel locomotive service on the Stony Point railway line to Stony Point, where it is a short walk along the jetty to catch the passenger ferry to Tankerton jetty on French Island. It is also possible to catch a passenger ferry from Cowes on Phillip Island. The Frankston railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... Frankston (station code: FKN) is a railway station located on Young Street in Frankston, Victoria, Australia. ... The Stony Point line is a greater-metropolitan railway line in Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a stub related to the city of Melbourne. ... Cowes (postcode: 3922, 38°27′ S 145°14′ E) is a small town on Phillip Island in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. ... Named after Governor Arthur Phillip, Phillip Island in Victoria (Australia) forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of Western Port Bay. ...

Population

As of 2007 there are about 60 permanent residents on the Island with eleven children attending the Perseverance Primary School. In 1997 about 70 per cent of the Island was declared the French Island National Park, and is listed in the register of the National Estate. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Natural Environment

Habitats range from coastal mangroves, swamps, heath, grasslands and blue gum forests. Most koala populations on the mainland of Australia are affected by the chlamydia disease. French Island provides the world's most dense and disease free population of koalas, with regular transfer of excess koalas to repopulate diseased areas on the mainland. Shelter is provided for more than 100 species of bush orchids, and 260 species of birds. Significant species on the island include: King Quail, the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, Fairy Tern, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Swamp Skink, Long-nosed Potoroo. The island is one of only two places in Victoria where the invasive red fox is not present, which has enabled the island to maintain a variety of indigenous species which have been devastated by the predator elsewhere including Phillip Island. However rabbits, feral cats, feral goats, feral pigs, Indian Mynahs and starlings pose a threat to the island's biodiversity. Binomial name Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss, 1817) The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a thickset arboreal marsupial herbivore native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae. ... Chlamydia is a common term for infection with any bacteria belonging to the phylum Chlamydiae. ... Orchid re-directs here; for alternate uses see Orchid (disambiguation) Genera Over 800 See List of Orchidaceae genera. ... Binomial name Coturnix chinensis Linnaeus, 1766 The Asian Blue Quail, Coturnix chinensis also known as Chinese Painted Quail or Blue-breasted Quail is in the same family as the pheasants Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. ... An endangered species is a species whose population is so small that it is in danger of becoming extinct. ... Binomial name Neophema chrysogaster (Latham, 1790) The Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to Australia. ... Binomial name Sterna nereis (Gould, 1843) The Fairy Tern (Sterna nereis) is a small tern which occurs in Australia (subspecies nereis), New Caledonia (exsul) and northern New Zealand (davisae). ... Binomial name Haliaeetus leucogaster Gmelin, 1788 The White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. ... Binomial name Potorous tridactylus (Kerr, 1792) The Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus*) is a species of Australian potoroo. ... Lantana Invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel; May 2, 2006 The term invasive species refers to a subset of those species defined as introduced species or non-indigenous species. ... Binomial name Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758 Red Fox range Synonyms Vulpes fulva, Vulpes fulvus The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes, although some authorities use Vulpes fulva for the scientific name. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... Trinomial name Felis silvestris catus Schreber, 1775 For alternative meanings see cat (disambiguation). ... Species See Species and subspecies The goat is a mammal in the genus Capra, which consists of nine species: the Ibex, the West Caucasian Tur, the East Caucasian Tur, the Markhor, and the Wild Goat. ... This article is about the pig genus. ... Binomial name Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) The Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, is a myna, a member of the starling family. ... Genera Aplonis Mino Basilornis Sarcops Streptocitta Enodes Scissirostrum Sarroglossa Ampeliceps Gracula Acridotheres Leucopsar Sturnia Sturnus Creatophora Fregilupus (extinct) Necropsar (extinct) Coccycolius Lamprotornis Cinnyricinclus Spreo Cosmoparus Onychognathus Poeoptera Grafisia Speculipastor Neochicla Buphagus See also: Myna, Oxpecker Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. ...

Transport

As the only cars used on the island are by residents, the network of more than 40km of gravel roads and tracks are quiet and ideal for cycling. The island is generally flat or mildly undulating with the highest point being Mt Wellington (96 metres). Bicycles can be hired from the General Store, Macleod Eco Farm and Bayview. There is an abundance of walking tracks. Active pursuits include bushwalking, bird watching, horse riding, cycling, and as a base for deep sea fishing.

Two local tour companies, French Island Tours and French Island Eco Tours, can provide bus tours of the island by arrangement.

Camping

There is one free camping site in the National Park at Fairhaven, 4km up the coast road from Tankerton Jetty, where the ferry arrives from Stony Point. The camp site is set among trees near the beach, with one public toilet and a water tank. Other camping is available at "private sites" at Bayview and McLeod Eco Farm by arrangement.

French Island looking north along Clump road

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1601x627, 90 KB)French Island looking north along Clump Road. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1601x627, 90 KB)French Island looking north along Clump Road. ...

History

Looking west over Western Port to Mornington Peninsula from the Coast road on French Island

• According to Aboriginal tribal songs, the Bunarong Tribe lived and hunted on French Island, until they were massacred by a warring Gippsland tribe
• April 1802 First discovered by Europeans when a French expedition from the ship La Naturaliste explored the area, naming it Île de Françoise, since anglicised as French Island.
• 1847 First settled by William and John Gardner.
• 1880s Koalas introduced to the island.
• 1890s Establishment of several village settlements, under Government settlement programs. Planting of chicory and establishment of some 30 chicory kilns.
• July 17, 1916 McLeod Prison Farm opens
• 1975 McLeod Prison Farm closes
• July 1997 about 70 per cent of the island declared as part of the French Island National Park.
• May 2002 waters directly north of French Island declared as French Island Marine National Park

ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 157 KB) Western Port, Victoria looking west from French Island, March 2005. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 157 KB) Western Port, Victoria looking west from French Island, March 2005. ... Western Port looking west from French Island to the Mornington Peninsula Western Port (also known as Western Port Bay) is an inlet on the southern coast of Australia from Bass Strait and the Pacific Ocean, adjacent and to the east of Port Phillip on which is sited Melbourne, the capital... A beach on the Mornington Peninsula A beach on the Mornington Peninsula A beach on the Mornington Peninsula The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, surrounded by Port Phillip, Western Port Bay and Bass Strait. ... --69. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... // Development and commercial production of electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered automobile by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach First commercial production and sales of phonographs and phonograph recordings. ... The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the Mauve Decade, because William Henry Perkins aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion, and also as the Gay Nineties, under the then-current usage of the word gay which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, with no... hellotyle=float:right; |- | |- | |} July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

External links

• French Island Ferry Service
• National Park page at Parks Victoria
• French Island Tourist Association
• French Island Eco Tours

See also: Protected areas of Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the smallest mainland state in Australia. ...