Île Morency in the South Neptune Islands in South Australia was named after Captain Morency, a French naval officer. It was named by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin during his expedition to map the southern coast of Australia in the early 1800s. The nearby Ile Villars, also named by Baudin, is named after Jean-Baptiste de Villars, a French naval officer and explorer who was part of the Baudin expedition.
Île Villars & Île Morency in the South Neptune Islands
The southern island doesn’t seem to have a particular name, but apart from being referred to as ‘the southern island’, it is also known as Lighthouse Island. The small islet located nearby doesn’t seem to have a particular name either.
It is not known who, or what, Ile Valbelle in the North Neptune Islands is named after. The small islet located nearby doesn’t seem to have a particular name at all.
The Yandra at Île Morency in the South Neptune Islands
The Yandra sank at Île Morency in the South Neptune Islands in January 1959. The Frances sank in the Neptune Islands in 1840. The Venus sank at the North Neptune Islands in 1946. The Saint Michele sank at the Neptune Islands in 1965. The Gloridia V sank at the North Neptune Islands in 1977.
I wrote this article about the bell from the Yandra for the April 2006 issue (No.213) of Dive Log Australasia: -
My article about the bell from the Yandra
(for April 2006 issue (No.213) of Dive Log Australasia)
This is a photo of the bell from the Yandra, as located at Paramount Browns at Dry Creek: -
The bell from the Yandra
(as located at Paramount Browns at Dry Creek)
The photo of the Yandra on the rocks at Île Morency in the South Neptune Islands is located behind the bell.
The MFV Cinderella has also been mentioned as another shipwreck in the Neptunes. According to https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?51953, the Cinderella was a small fishing boat which foundered in Spencer Gulf on 24/05/1982, Lat: -35.33 Lon: 136.12. That puts it in the Neptunes too.
Matthew Flinders named the Neptune Islands in 1802. They were so named by Flinders because he considered that they seemed to be ‘inaccessible to men’.
Captain Stokes charted the islands in HMS Beagle in 1840.Captain Howard of the Admiralty Survey visited the islands in 1873-74.
Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions has been using the Neptune Islands for shark cage diving since the early 1970s. They say that the Neptune's are a group of four islands 40 nautical miles (60 miles?) south of Port Lincoln and that they are “A natural feeding ground for Great White Sharks”, adding that “they form the world focal point for shark cage diving”.
According to https://rodneyfox.com.au/great-white-shark-central/the-neptune-islands/, “Their rocky-cragged coves are home to Australia’s largest colony of Fur Seals. High up on their granite promontories, you’ll see White Breasted Sea Eagles hunting and hear the conversational twitter of Rock Parrots and marvel at the fabled Albatross. ….. The island is full of wonderful species of mammals, reptiles and birds; some of them unique to the Neptunes. One of the many highlights is watching the rare and elusive Australian Sea Lions interacting on the rocks.”
Then there are, of course, the Great White Sharks. “Male Great Whites (up to 5-m) inhabit the islands all year round. The seal pups are born in summer (December to January), but don’t start entering the ocean until winter (April to August). That’s when the giant female Great Whites (up to 6m) come to the Neptunes.”
The lighthouse at Port Adelaide spent 84 years on South Neptune Island before returning to Port Adelaide in 1985. It was replaced by a modern 8m-high tower on the island in 1985.
The lighthouse at Port Adelaide
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