HAMELIN BAY

HEMA Map reference 74/H1

34° 13' 25" S 115° 01' 56" E

Statistics

Caravan Parks

Hamelin Bay  08 9758 5540

Services

See Augusta

Attractions

Coastal scenery.

Buildings of note

Unknown

Calendar of events

Unknown

Description

Originally this was a port used for the export of timber and the remains of the jetty (built in 1881) that you see today were once part of an extensive complex.

The first 500 feet of the jetty was built between 1881 and 1882 and a further 1300 feet was added later to allow larger vessels to use the facility. M.C. Davies was responsible for the building of the jetty here and another further south at Flinders Bay.

With the closure of the timber mills in 1913 the Hamelin Bay jetty fell out of use and Flinders Bay assumed a greater prominence.
 

It may be difficult to imagine it today but steam cranes, water pipes, lighters, channel markers and large vessels once made this s bustling port.

The bay is sheltered from southern winds but is very exposed to gales that come in from the west. On July 22nd 1900 a storm sprang up and three ships, the Katinka, the Lovspring and the Norwester all came to grief with the loss of several lives. Although the Norwester was eventually repaired the other two ships were so badly damaged that they were sold for scrap. The graves of s 4 of the sailors drowned that night are in the old cemetery at Karridale.

A salmon fishery was established in the bay in the 1940s.

Today Hamelin Bay is just a great place to kick back an relax. Located between Margaret River and Augusta it is a very popular spot as it offers safe boating and swimming.

The caravan park here is just a stone’s throw from the beach but it does get very crowded.

In the shallow water near the boat ramp you will regularly see stingrays gliding over the sandy bottom. People are asked not to interfere with these rays and to release any that may be caught on fishing lines. The death of Steve Irwin in 2006 is a reminder that stingrays are potentially dangerous and should be left alone.

ICON BUTCHERED!

Stumpy the stingray was one of the oldest and most friendly rays at the bay. Callous, ignorant people have butchered this harmless ray (the only one with no tail and therefore no defense) and the West Australian Government has done nothing to prevent this from happening to other rays at the bay.

Stingrays in this area are a major tourist attraction and to leave them unprotected is stupidity beyond belief. All large stingrays should be protected by law and the friendly rays at Hamelin Bay should all be protected as a natural treasure.

The video link at the top of this page (click the top photo) shows Stumpy in much happier times.
 

Contact the Minister for tourism; Honourable Dr Kim Hames MB BS JP MLA at: Minister.Hames@dpc.wa.gov.au and the Minister for Fisheries; Honourable Norman Moore BA DipEd JP MLC at Minister.Moore@dpc.wa.gov.au and get the law changed before it is too late.