History
From
hunting...
Over 26,000 Southern Right Whales were killed in Australian and New Zealand
waters.
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1791
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First whale (Sperm Whale) taken in Australian waters by the crew
of Britannia after unloading cargo and convicts. |
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1804
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Whales
were so common in the Derwent River, Tasmania, they were
a hazard to small boats. |
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1830
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Whaling
industry on mainland Australia underway with small shore
stations. |
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1835-1844
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Whales
hunted to near extinction. Southern Right Whales were considered
the "right" whale to hunt because they float when dead,
can yield many barrels of oil, have long baleen plates and
come close to shore. Whale oil was used for candles, light
fuel, soap, heating and lubricant. Baleen, often referred
to as "whalebone" is strong and flexible and was used in
corsetry, bookbinding, whip and umbrella making. |
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1845
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Very
scarce and no longer profitable to hunt. |
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1872
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The
whaling station set up by the South Australia Company at
Encounter Bay closed. 1931 Protected in South Australia.
|
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1935
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Internationally
protected through the League of Nations. |
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1978
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All
whaling in Australian waters ceased, the last whaling station
(for Sperm Whales) being in Albany, Western Australia. |
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1990s
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Great
Australian Bight Marine Park and Whale Sanctuary established,
providing a haven for southern right whales visiting Australian
waters.
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...to
watching
World
population diminished from more than 100,000 to around 4,000
- the Southern
Right Whale is on a journey recovering from near extinction
Whale watching is providing regional tourism opportunities.
Whaling
and Whalers in South Australia
For
many years before South Australia was settled in 1836, whalers
and sealers had been visiting the coasts and islands to harvest
the valuable products of whaling and sealing. One American whaling
vessel, "Union" spent the winter of 1804 at Kangaroo
Island. The first white visitors to South Australia, hardened
whalers, were probably a rough introduction to white people
for local aboriginals. Records and statistics relating to whaling
during this time are scarce as operations were conducted at
sea or by visiting vessels.
For
whalers life was harsh, sometimes so bad that entire crews deserted
their whaling operation. Whaling party were dropped off with
their equipment and left for the season, sometimes the pick-up
vessel did not return for more than a year. Being an opportunistic
industry the whaling stations required few shore structures.
Many stations were so scant that occupants were hardly able
to live and survived on what they could catch.
Southern
Right Whales were considered the "right" whale to
hunt because they float when dead, yielded many barrels of oil,
and long baleen plates. The also come very close to shore and
move slowly. The whalers would watch for whales then give chase
in boats about ten meters long. The boats were much smaller
than the whales that grow up to 17 meters long, making the chase
and harpooning of the whale very dangerous to the whalers. The
whale was then towed back to shore and hauled onto a ramp or
rock platform for flensing (removing the blubber). The blubber,
rich in oil, was heated in large "try-pots" over open
fires and the oil collected. Whale oil was used for candles,
light fuel, soap, heating and lubricant. The baleen, often referred
to as "whalebone" was also collected from the mouth
of the whale. Baleen is strong and flexible and was used in
corsetry, bookbinding, whip and umbrella making.
Around
the time of settlement, bay whaling stations were set up, the
South Australian Register recorded the interest:
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"The
Black Whale is the one that hitherto has most engaged the
attention of the colonists of the province, in consequence
of its annual visits to our bays, and the facilities that
thereby exist for pursuing it from the shore (South Australian
Register, 1 January 1842)." |
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There
were at least 18 separate bay whaling locations on the South
Australian coast between 1828 and1855. The whaling industry’s
heyday was from 1838 to 1845 after which the numbers of whales
in South Australian waters were no longer able to sustain this
business. Today synthetic oils and materials have replaced the
whale products.
Despite
gaining protection in 1936 Southern Right Whale stocks are still
a long way from recovering.
Reference
and further reading:
Kostoglou,
P. and McCarthy, J. (1991) Whaling and sealing sites in South
Australia. Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology Special
Publication No. 6.
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