BASS AND FLINDERS- EUROPEAN DISCOVERY
The name Wilsons Promontory comes from the two first Europeans to settle in the area. It is believed that Matthew Flinders and George Bass discovered the land in 1978 on their voyage from Sydney and on arrival is where they claimed and named the land after one of Matthew Flinders good friends back in England. Before learning that this area was attached to further land, it was assumed that it was one of the island surrounding the main land.
After the arrival of Flinders and Bass many introduced species inhabited the area very quickly such as rabbits and dogs.
Furneaux's land was what Flinders had first named the area in his diary as he had the believe that a man named Captin Furneaux had previously discovered and written about.
Not long after Bass and Flinders had discovered the area, a ship was sent in to look at the potential of sealing throughout the prom. Before Wilsons Prom was officially given that name, many new the area as Sealer's Cove due to the vast amount of the species there and the amount of people that went there to hunt the animal. A potential area soon boomed into an area where you would most certainly be able to hunt seals. The Seals hunted were the Australian Fur Seals. The numbers of fur seals before this expedition took place was well over 700,000, but very quickly the numbers began to drop and the seal trade would have to cease to exist to ensure the animal stayed alive for many years to come. The Australian Fur seal nowadays is a protected species and is not allowed to be hunted for any reason.
After the arrival of Flinders and Bass many introduced species inhabited the area very quickly such as rabbits and dogs.
Furneaux's land was what Flinders had first named the area in his diary as he had the believe that a man named Captin Furneaux had previously discovered and written about.
Not long after Bass and Flinders had discovered the area, a ship was sent in to look at the potential of sealing throughout the prom. Before Wilsons Prom was officially given that name, many new the area as Sealer's Cove due to the vast amount of the species there and the amount of people that went there to hunt the animal. A potential area soon boomed into an area where you would most certainly be able to hunt seals. The Seals hunted were the Australian Fur Seals. The numbers of fur seals before this expedition took place was well over 700,000, but very quickly the numbers began to drop and the seal trade would have to cease to exist to ensure the animal stayed alive for many years to come. The Australian Fur seal nowadays is a protected species and is not allowed to be hunted for any reason.