Named after Governor Arthur Phillip, Phillip Island in Victoria (Australia) forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of Western Port Bay. The island area is 10300 hectares and it is 26 kilometres long and 9 kilometres at its widest. It has 97km of coastline. A 640 metre concrete bridge connects the mainland town San Remo with the island town Newhaven. In 2005/06 the island's permanent population was approximately 7000. During the summer, the population swells to 40,000. 60% of the island is farmland devoted to grazing of sheep and cattle. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (915x651, 62 KB) Map of Phillip Island, Victoria I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Admiral Arthur Phillip (1786 portrait by Francis Wheatley, National Portrait Gallery, London) Admiral Arthur Phillip, RN (11 October 1738 – 31 August 1814) was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. ... Capital Melbourne Government Const. ... 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... Bridge connecting San Remo with the adjacent town of Newhaven. ... Bridge connecting Newhaven with the adjacent town of San Remo. ...

Part of the Bass Coast Shire, it is mainly a tourist destination. It attracts 3.5 million visitors annually. The Penguin Parade (see little penguin) is the main tourist venues, with visitors from all over the world coming to see one of the few areas where this species of penguin can be seen. Another popular tourist attraction is the Seal Rocks which host the largest colony of fur seals in Australia (up to 16,000). On September the 24th, the evening skies above Phillip Island darken as Short-tailed Shearwater birds begin to arrive on the island after completing a 16,000 km journey from the Bering Strait around the Aleutian Islands near Alaska. They come to breed in sand dune burrows. During the summer months, over one million short-tailed shearwaters are on the island. In 1996, the state government created an award winning not-for-profit organisation called Phillip Island Nature Parks which protects the natural wonders of the island. Bass Coast Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. ... A tourist destination is a city, town or other area the economy of which is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. ... Korora redirects here. ... Binomial name Puffinus tenuirostris (Temminck, 1835) The Short-tailed Shearwater also commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in Australia and they are one of the few Australian native birds that is commercially harvested. ... Aleutians seen from space The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, island) are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming an island arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean, occupying an area of 6,821 sq mi (17,666 km²) and extending about 1,200 mi (1,900... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ...

On New Year's Eve the island hosts the Pyramid Rock Festival. The quality of this article or section may be compromised by peacock terms. You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. ... The Pyramid Rock Festival is a New Years Eve camp-out rock music festival at Pyramid Rock, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. ...

The island is recognised as having some of the most consistently reliable and varied surf conditions in the country. The island has hosted various surf events in the past, such as the Rip Curl Pro in 2005 (when conditions at Bells Beach were unfavourable) and the Roxy Pro Women's Surfing Festival.

Fishing is an ongoing industry and attraction on the island. Snapper, King George Whiting, School Sharks and Gummy Sharks are common catches. Genera Aphareus Aprion Apsilus Etelis Hemilutjanus Hoplopagrus Lipocheilus Lutjanus Macolor Ocyurus Paracaesio Pinjalo Pristipomoides Randallichthys Rhomboplites Symphorus Snapper can also refer to the Snapping turtle. ... Binomial name Galeorhinus galeus (Linnaeus, 1758) The School Shark, also known as the Tope Shark, Soupfin Shark or Snapper Shark, Galeorhinus galeus is a shark that can be found at depths of up to 1,800 feet (550 m). ... Binomial name Mustelus antarcticus Günther, 1870 The gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus, is a shark in the family Triakidae, It is a slender grey shark with white spots along the body and flat plate-like teeth for crushing its prey witha maximim length between 157 cm (male) and 175 cm...

During events and holidays, traffic becomes particularly heavy. The main road on the island (Phillip Island Road, running between the towns of Newhaven and Cowes) normally operates with 2 lanes. To aid efficient flow of traffic, a blue line on the road comes into effect adding an extra lane. Reduced speed limits are applied during these times.

Water is supplied to the island from Candowie Reservoir which is managed by Westernport Water. Australia suffered a severe drought in 2006 (see Drought in Australia). Toward the end of 2006, Westernport Water recognized that water levels were at an all time low. This was particularly concerning with the holiday season quickly approaching. They proceeded to drill for water, and struck success at the bottom of Anderson Hill. This supply is expected to yield 1 million litres per day which will account for 15% of the predicted demand. Similar sources are expected to be found at King Road in Bass and Corinella. Stage 4 water restrictions remain in place on the island. Drought in Australia is defined by rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest ten percent of amounts having been recorded for that region in the past. ... An outdoor water-use restriction is a ban or other lesser restrictions put into effect that restricts the outdoor use of water supplies. ...

A gas pipeline has not been run to the island. All gas appliances are supplied with bottled gas.

Towns on and around the island include:

• Beachcomber
• Cape Woolamai
• Cowes
• Cowes East
• Cowes West
• Newhaven
• Rhyll
• San Remo
• Silverleaves
• Smith's Beach
• Summerland
• Sunderland Bay
• Sunset Strip
• Surf Beach
• Ventnor
• Wimbledon Heights
• Woolamai Waters

See List of localities (Victoria) for other Victorian towns and cities. Beachcomber is a small town on Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. ... Cape Woolamai is a small town on Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. ... Cowes ( ) is a small town on Phillip Island in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. ... Bridge connecting Newhaven with the adjacent town of San Remo. ... Rhyll is a small fishing town on Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. ... Bridge connecting San Remo with the adjacent town of Newhaven. ... Summerland is a small town on Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. ... Wimbledon Heights is a small town in the center of Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. ... Cape Woolamai ([3]) is a small town and headland at the south eastern tip of Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. ... This is a list of places in the State of Victoria, Australia. ...

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Sharks

White Pointer Sharks keep the local seal population under control. There have been no reports of sharks attacking people, though it is possible that a shark could mistake a person for a seal. The sharks tend to stay away from beaches. Search helicopters and spotter planes are used to observe the sharks. When a shark is spotted, local police close down beaches. Binomial name Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758) Range (in blue) The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, also known as white pointer, white shark, or white death, is an exceptionally large lamniforme shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. ...

Notable Catches

A 6.3 meter (21 foot) White Pointer Shark was caught by shark hunter Vic Hyslop in the 1980s. The shark was frozen and taken to Queensland for display. Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd)  - Product per capita  $40,170/person (6th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  4,070,400 (3rd)  - Density  2. ...

Notable Sightings

In January 2007 a shark was spotted multiple times swimming around the Anderson Street boat ramp in Cowes. Seals were also spotted in the vicinity. The shark was estimated to be 6 meters in length. Local beaches were temporarily closed down. Cowes ( ) is a small town on Phillip Island in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. ...

Events and Festivals

• Pyramid Rock Festival
• World Superbike Championship
• Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
• V8 Supercars
• Churchill Island Working Horse and Pioneer Festival
• Woolamai Picnic Races

The Pyramid Rock Festival is a New Years Eve camp-out rock music festival at Pyramid Rock, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. ... V8 Supercars in action The V8 Supercar is a category of touring car racing that evolved in Australia in the early 1990s. ...

Climate

Phillip Island experiences milder weather than Melbourne and is tempered by ocean breezes. The mean daily maximum temperature for February is 24.7°C (76.5°F), while for July it is 13.4°C (56.1°F). The mean annual rainfall is 782.3 millimetres (30.8 in), with June being the wettest month (88.1 mm/3.5 in). Melbournes CBD has grown to straddle the Yarra River in three major precincts. ...

On the 10th of August 2005, snow was observed on the island. This was a very unusual event.

Motor Racing

See Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

External links

• Official Phillip Island MySpace Page - The Official Phillip Island MySpace Community where all islanders are welcome.
• Phillip Island Tourist Information service Online bookings, maps, calendar, accommodation, educational information
• Phillip Island Ferry Service
• Seal Rock Cruises
• Phillip Island Nature Park Web Site Includes Penguin Parade and Koala Conservation Center.
• Official website of the GP Circuit
• History of Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Track tour, Streaming Video of race lap, race event contacts
• Phillip Island Tourism Guide Victoria Australia Tourism information for Phillip Island tourism region including accommodation, attractions, activities, restaurants, cellar doors, events diary and more.
• Tranquil Artillery - Phillip Islands Finest Hip Hop
• Skydive Phillip Island Jump over Phillip Island
• The Castle Villa By The Sea - Phillip Island Luxury Accommodation
• Holmwood Guesthouse - Award winning Boutique B&B on Phillip Island
• Phillip Island Restaurants and Accommodation - Phillip Island Restaurants and Accommodation
• Spa Holiday for two Phillip Island
• Phillip Island Track Days
• Phillip Island Hot Laps

Coordinates: 38°29′S, 145°14′E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...