Smoky Cape

Smoky Cape is a headland in Australia on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast. It lies just east of the town of South West Rocks, and within the Hat Head National Park.[1]

Smoky Cape
New South Wales
Smoky Cape
Coordinates30.9237°S 153.0888°E / -30.9237; 153.0888


Cape

The cape was named Smoky Cape by Captain Cook when he passed it on 13 May 1770, writing of "a point or headland, on which were fires that Caused a great Quantity of smook, which occasioned my giving it the name of Smooky Cape".[2] Smook was his usual spelling of smoke, the spelling for the cape now follows the modern spelling. The hills there were an important meeting place for aboriginal people from various surrounding areas, it's possible Cook saw fires from such a gathering.[3]

A lighthouse was proposed for the cape in 1886 and completed in 1891. Known as the Smoky Cape Lighthouse it was built from concrete and local granite aggregate in an octagonal shape at the highest point on the cape.

Smoky Cape

Fish Rock

Fish Rock is a small bare rock which juts out of the sea just south-east of the cape. It's a noted scuba diving location and home to various fish species.[4] A 120-metre cave runs right under the rock and there are various gutters nearby where Grey Nurse Sharks live. The area is one of about a dozen in New South Wales recognised as critical for the shark, and for that reason fishing is restricted, but the grey nurse is still affected by fishing. The only restrictions are anchoring within 100m and bottom fishing, however boats are still allowed to drift up as close as they want and drop their lines. Fisheries have also been reported to have only been seen at Fish Rock twice in the past 6 years.[5]

Green Island

Green Island is a small island close to the coast just north of the cape. It too is a critical habitat area for the Grey Nurse Shark.[5]

References
  1. "Smoky Cape". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. Parkin, Ray, H. M. Bark Endeavour, Miegunyah Press, second edition 2003, ISBN 0-522-85093-6, page 227.
  3. Neil, Marie H.. (1972) Valley of the Macleay. ISBN 0-85587-037-0. chapters 2 and 3
  4. McFadyen, Michael. "Fish Rock - Sahr Gutters". Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  5. "Grey nurse shark critical habitat and buffer zones". NSW Department of Primary Industries. Archived from the original on 5 August 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
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