Garden Island (Western Australia)

Garden Island

Garden Island and Cockburn Sound from space (NASA World Wind)
Geography
Location	Indian Ocean
Coordinates	32°11′39″S 115°40′27″E / 32.19417°S 115.67417°E / -32.19417; 115.67417
Area	11 km2 (4.2 sq mi)
Administration
Commonwealth of Australia
Demographics
Population	772 (SAL 2021)[1]
Commonwealth Heritage List
Official name	Garden Island
Type	Listed place (Natural)
Designated	22 June 2004
Reference no.	105274

Garden Island (Noongar: Meandup or Meeandip) is a narrow island about 10 kilometres (6 mi) long and 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi) wide, lying about 5 kilometres (3 mi) off the Western Australian coast, to which it is linked by an artificial causeway and bridge.

Like Rottnest Island and Carnac Island, it is a limestone outcrop covered by a thin layer of sand accumulated during an era of lowered sea levels.^[2] The Noongar peoples tell of walking to these islands in their Dreamtime.

At the end of the last glacial period, the sea level rose, cutting the island off from the mainland. For the last seven thousand years, the island has existed in relative isolation.

The Royal Australian Navy's largest fleet base, Fleet Base West, also called HMAS Stirling,^[3] is on the shores of Careening Bay, on the southeastern section of Garden Island, facing Cockburn Sound. At the 2016 census,^[update] 720 people lived on the Garden Island base.^[4]

The entirety of Garden Island is included on the Commonwealth Heritage List for its natural values. Garden Island is home to a tammar wallaby population.^[5]