Seabird, Western Australia
| Seabird Western Australia | |
|---|---|
 Seabird Tavern overlooking the coast in September 2021 | |
  Seabird | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 31°15′54″S 115°25′48″E / 31.265°S 115.43°E |
| Population | 107 (SAL 2021)[1] |
| Established | 1968 |
| Postcode(s) | 6042 |
| Area | 12.8 km2 (4.9 sq mi) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Gingin |
| State electorate(s) | Moore |
| Federal division(s) | Pearce |
Seabird is a small coastal town north of Perth, Western Australia in the Shire of Gingin, situated halfway between Two Rocks and Lancelin overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Seabird is a popular holiday and retirement spot, similar to surrounding settlements such as Guilderton and Ledge Point, but has also become infamous for its struggles with coastal erosion.
History[edit]
The area that would become Seabird was first founded on sand dunes as a series of squatter shacks used by rock lobster fisherman during the 1950s. In 1965 the decision was made to gazette the area as a townsite named "Chalon", named after the hometown of the botanist Jean-Baptiste Leschenault de La Tour. The proposed name was unpopular with residents and upon being gazetted in 1968 was renamed "Seabird". Sea Bird (two words) was the name of a schooner which shipwrecked in the area in 1874 and had lent its name to a nearby pastoral lease.[2][3]
Seabird's fragile location on the foredunes overlooking the beach resulted in a 1970s report by the Coastal Townsites Committee of the now-disbanded Town Planning Department recommending no further development of the settlement shortly after its gazettal.[4] This came to fruition after significant erosion of up to 40 metres resulted in Turner Street, a road built to service the town's beachfront properties, collapsing into the ocean.[5] In 2016 lobbying by residents resulted in a $2 million AUD sea wall being constructed to protect the exposed properties for another 10-20 years. This was also complemented by the addition of 2,400 native seedlings to help further stabilise the area behind the sea wall.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Seabird (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Town names". Landgate. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "SEA BIRD". SHIPWRECK DATABASES. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "Assessment of Coastal Erosion Hotspots in Western Australia Appendix D" (PDF). Western Australia Government. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ Faulkner, Kerry. "Saving Seabird as ocean consumes beaches and threatens houses". Domain. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "Revegetation at Seabird a Soaring Success". Northern Agricultural Catchments Council. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
