Sir Joseph Banks Group to Port Augusta

In the 1790s, a young Matthew Flinders voyaged to New South Wales in the Reliance, and then with George Bass, he explored sections of the colony in a 8 foot rowing boat called Tom Thumb. They were then given command of the 35 foot Sloop Norfolk, in which they proved Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) was in fact an island.

When Flinders return to England, he proposed a survey of the ‘unknown coast’ of New Holland. His proposal was forwarded to the influential Sir Joseph Banks, who recommended the voyage be undertaken and the proposal was approved by King George III.

A few years later in March 1802, Flinders was in command of HMS Investigator after being promoted from lieutenant to commodore, and he ordered her away from Port Lincoln after naming it in honour of Lincolnshire, his home county. Ahead lay a group of low-lying islands. At six that evening, The Investigator lowered an anchor in ten fathoms just north of Kirkby Island while Flinders recorded, “These I name, SIR JOSEPH BANKS’ GROUP, in compliment to the Right Honourable president of the Royal Society.”

The following GPS positions are approximate.

The Sir Joseph Banks Group, between 34°29’S to 34°43’S and 136°10’E to 136°28’E.
20-25 nm E-NE from Port Lincoln.

The Sir Joseph Banks Group Marine Park covers an area of 2,627 sq. km and consists of about 20 islands, islets and rocks divided into two main parts. This beautiful chain of islands offers a range of lovely sheltered bays, golden sand beaches and reefs teeming with marine life, and are the South Australian breeding ground for Cape Barren Geese. Nearby Dangerous Reef hosts one of the largest breeding colonies of Australian sea lions.

The northern part, with the exception of Kirkby and Dalby islets in the west, and Winceby in the north, stand on a bank with depths of less than 9 metres.

The southern part of the group consists of Sibsey and English Islands to the west; and Stickney Island 5nm SE of them; and then the cluster of Duffield, Spilsby, Boucaut Islands and Seal Rock another 3nm ENE of Stickney. Then lastly, Buffalo Reef, the eastern most of the Banks Group, 7nm SE of Boucaut.

The islands are all low-lying limestone capping granite platforms, which is often exposed along shorelines and in adjacent shallow and drying reefs.

Tidal range of up to 1.60 metres significantly affects navigability in the shallower areas, especially in the northern group. Maximum land heights above chart datum are 30 metres or less, except the southern end of Reevesby (32m) and Spilsby (41m). And only on these islands is there any vegetation higher than low shrub.

Spilsby Island,
Banyandah visited this island in a dead calm. A sand spit extends about 0.2nm NNW from the NW corner of Spilsby, which is the largest and highest island in the Banks Group. We drift fished off the north side of this bank and caught flathead, snook, and squid.

Our mate John shows his anchor at 34°39.96'S ~ 136°19.90'E - too much swell there for us.

We anchored out at 34°40.15'S ~ 136°19.70'E in 24' weed and sand. A large area of foul ground extends at least one mile south-west from Spilsby and should be avoided. Popping out a flat sea, we saw breakers there that our surfing friend Timmy says are wicked!

For shelter from SW and S: Anchor off the northern shore to the east of the sand spit, in weed on a sand bottom.

The following morning we drift sailed over the shallow spit between Spilsby and Duffield Islet. Not advisable without the right conditions, local knowledge or a shallow draft!

It’s reported, between Spilsby and Boucaut Islet is all shoal and rocky ground best avoided! Sometimes breaks according to The Australia Pilot.

Stickney Island,
This is not a big island, but these are the recommended anchorages:

Shelter from E through N to NW in a deep inlet bounded by the island to the west and north, and a drying reef connected to a rocky islet to the east. Some sources name this Linklater Point. The shoreline is rocky, the bottom moderately steep-to, but anchoring is in sand in depths of 10 metres or more.

If sheltering from SW and S: There is a small cove, open to the NNE, with a sandy beach at its head; anchor in mixed sand and weed.

Sibsey Island,
34°38.46’S and 136°10.79’E
Shelter from S through SE to NE in a small, very pretty, cove with steep rocky sides. Anchor in sand patches with depth 5-7 metres, as close in as safe swinging margins permit. Scramble landing is possible.

Swimming is not recommended. The nearby English Island is home to large numbers of Sea-lion, some of which also haul out on Sibsey. The rich sea-life around these islands attracts top predators.

One of the two navigation lights in the Banks Group is at the highest point on Sibsey Island.

A beautiful screen saver and wall poster of this anchorage is available free here.

Hareby and Blyth Islands,34°34.17’S ~ 136°17.16’E
Shelter from SW: North of Hareby Island, as close to the sandbanks as draft permits. Rocks extend from the east of both islands. Take note of above-water rock about 0.4nm NE of Hareby with rocks between - hazards for the unwary.

Langton Island and Smith Rock,34°35.52'S ~ 136°15.26'E
Shelter from SW through S to SE
North of the spit extending east, which continues underwater as a rocky spine towards Smith Rock awash at high water about half a mile NE. Gradual increasing depth in-between with supposedly a safe passage of 4m depth. Plenty of sea-lions, approach at your own risk.

Reevesby Island, between 34°33’S to 34°30’S and 136°15’E to 136°18’E
Named by Matthew Flinders on 6 March 1802 for 'Revesby', a Lincolnshire village.
Banyandah experienced calm to full gale at this island.

Reevesby Lagoon
Locally called “home base” are the semi-protected waters between Reevesby, Lusby, Partney, and Marum Island. By moving from one spot to another, moderately good shelter can be obtained from any wind direction. Holding in the lagoon can be unreliable, being generally limestone interspersed with sandy patches. Depths are generally less than 6 metres.

Caution: Lusby Island is connected to Reevesby by shallow drying reef. And another partly drying reef runs west and north towards Partney reducing the safe passage into the lagoon to 0.5nm wide. Stay close south of Partney Island as this passage can be difficult to see. Partney and Marum are also joined by shallow reefs.

From Partney, a sand spit extends east towards Reevesby, while a drying rock and large sand spit extending from Reevesby restricts the passage between. An unlit pole marks the central point of these drying rocks. Aim for mid-channel: 34°31.31'S ~ 136°16.03'E

1) Homestead Bay
Mooring at 34°32.19'S ~ 136°16.45'E
Shelter from S through E to NNE
Anchor off middle of sandy beach. There are a few moorings fairly close to the beach.
2) Northern Bay
34°30.83'S ~ 136°16.56'E

North Coast Reevesby:
Morton Bay, 34°30.23'S ~ 136°17.44'E
Shelter from SW through S to SSE

The best anchorage in SW weather. Bottom is heavy weed interspersed with patches of sand.

East Coast Reevesby:
Shelter from N through W to SW
McCoy Bay, 34°30.47'S ~ 136°17.84'E
The large northern bay is better for more northerly winds.

Haystack Bay, 34°32.09'S ~ 136°16.96'E
The semi-circular bay to the south is better for south-westerly winds.

NOTE: There is a narrow .25nm wide passage between the rocky southern coast of Reevesby and the large sandbank extending from Blyth that is reported to be 4 or 5 metres deep.

Tiger Snakes and Death Adders are reportedly thick on these islands, although we saw none when we walked across and around Reevesby.

The homestead and machinery sheds are in a dangerous condition, but well worth a visit.

PLACES NOT VISITED

Info thanks to John of Desiree and other sources.

John says the north Spencer is delightfully beautiful with distant views of the Flinders Ranges and numerous gunk holes to spend a night or two. Summer and early autumn, the night breeze is often easterly, therefore locals favour the eastern shore.

From the Joseph Banks Group, in a SW wind John heads to Franklin Harbour/Cowell, bypassing Arno Bay unless the wind is west when he might anchor in Arno Bay, otherwise that bay is too rollie and the entrance to the tiny Arno Bay Marina too tricky.

With winds SE through E to N, John prefers:

Port Victoria, 34°29.50’ S ~ 137°28.70’ E
Anchor off town jetty in about 4 meters of water. One can also anchor behind the reefs just north of Point Gawler. Easiest approach, south of Wardang Island. From the north, there is a very narrow marked channel between Bird Point on Wardang Island and Rocky Island. Eclipse Rock is a danger when approaching Port Victoria - marked by a pole with a green triangle.

Facilities: John says it’s a charming town with good facilities. A small shop at the base of the jetty is open 7 days a week with a pub across the road. Further up the main street is a larger store that also has hardware. A picnic area north of the jetty has town water.

The town calls itself 'the last of the windjammer ports' and the main street has rows of Norfolk pines running all the way down to the sea. Another attraction, the waters around Wardang Island hide nine historical shipwrecks available to divers.

Further north, around Cape Elizabeth is Tiparra Bay protected from S through E to NE

Wallaroo, anchorage 33°55.40'S ~ 137°37.26'E
There is also a new 154 berth marina: 12.3m berth $30/day - $140/week
enquiries call Michael Nance 08 8823 3704

Port Boughton, 33°35.91'S ~ 137°55.53'E
Access via a marked channel. Tie alongside the jetty or anchor off. Population around 1,000. Historic wheat port now a popular holiday resort. Very welcoming sailing club. Port Broughton has two hotels both located on Bay Street. The Port Broughton Hotel & The Sunnyside Hotel.

Port Pirie, 33°07.64’ S ~ 138°01.27’ E
Shelter from all directions, but John on Desiree only occasionally stops.
Entrance to the port is via a long winding channel. Major port with wharves and plenty of traffic.

Facilities: The city centre is within walking distance. There is a museum and pub with good meals across from the wharf. Showers are available adjacent to the Royal Port Pirie Yacht Club.

Port Augusta, 32°29.35’S ~ 137°45.53’ E
Shelter from all directions
Port Augusta at the head of Spencer Gulf, lies just west of the Flinders Ranges. Located 308 km from Adelaide, it is the most northerly port in South Australia.

During its history Port Augusta has changed from South Australia's second largest port to a railway hub and now Port Augusta has reinvented itself again as the crossroads of Australia, capital of the outback. A place where tourists heading for Eyre Penisula, Western Australia, Alice Springs, the Northern Flinders and the Birdsville Track meet and reprovision.

The entrance is via a deep-water channel past the powerhouse. You can tie up at the town pontoon free of charge or anchor off the main jetty.

Facilities: Within 150m is a Wollies and liquor store. 200m to the yacht club. There are plenty of nearby shops with all facilities including fuel, showers and toilets. As it is a public wharf it is recommended that boats not be left unattended. If you have access to a car, there is good sightseeing - for example to Pichi Richi Pass, Quorn and the Flinders Ranges.

There is no other town in Australia quite like Port Augusta for contrasts. To the west lie the beautifully contoured, undulating slopes of the Flinders Ranges. They are magical in their beauty and in spring are impossibly green and fertile. At sunset they are gently coloured with a purplish hue. The town is literally on the edge of the desert. Only a few kilometres to the north, the edge of town gives way to flat scrubby land which stretches to the horizon. To the west lie five huge plateaus where there are dry salt lakes beside the road.

Video
We have a video of Banyandah's winter cruise from Adelaide to Port Lincoln and back again to Adelaide, including the Sir Joseph Banks Group, that will keep you entertained for a bit more than an hour. For more details: http://jackandjude.com/dvds/

Next >> Port Lincoln west to Great Australian Bight

Cap'n Jack