Gage Roads

Coordinates: 32°2′43″S 115°40′53″E / 32.04528°S 115.68139°E / -32.04528; 115.68139

Looking from shore at North Fremantle across Gage Roads towards Rottnest Island

Gage Roads is the sea channel in the Indian Ocean offshore from Fremantle, Western Australia.

Gage Roads serve as a shipping lane and anchorage for sea traffic heading towards the seaport of Fremantle. Gage Roads was the location of the 1987 America's Cup,

Rottnest Island lies to the west of Gage Roads, and Cockburn Sound lies to the south.

Coastal geology

The area is the most northern of one of four coastal basins formed from the flooding of a depression between Pleistocene aeolianite ridges running north-south, and the subsequent deposition of east-west Holocene banks. The seabed of Gage Roads is covered by seagrass.

Naming

Bulk carrier Iran Yazo anchored in Gage Roads

Gage Roads was named after Rear-Admiral Sir William Hall Gage who was Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy's East Indies Station when James Stirling was surveying the Swan River in 1826.[1][2]

Shipping reports

Gage Roads is identified in shipping reports listing ships at anchor prior to entering the port of Fremantle.[3][4]

Anchorage

At certain times, over 10 ships can be seen anchored in Gage Roads waiting to enter the port of Fremantle. In addition to these waiting ships, over-sized ships that are unable to enter the inner harbour due to size or draft are required to anchor in Gage Roads.[5]

Cruising

In the early 1900s, the local boat SS Zephyr regularly took cruises in Gage Roads.[6] In the 2000s, the STS Leeuwin II and others have used Gage Roads for short sailing cruises.

War time

During the World War II era, the Leighton Guns (also known as Leighton Battery) on Buckland Hill were part of the main anti-aircraft defence of the Gage Roads area.

The guns were still operable into the Gage Roads area in the 1950s.[7][8]

Swimming

Swimmers in the Rottnest Channel Swim (an annual swimming event) start at Cottesloe beach, cross Gage Roads and finish at Rottnest Island.

Notes

  1. ↑ Gage Roads – named by Captain Stirling in 1827 after Rear Admiral Gage – The Sunday Times (Perth), 4 Jan. 1987, p.32d
  2. ↑ Ian Murray with Marion Hercock (2008). Where on the Coast is That?. Hesperian Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-85905-452-2.
  3. ↑ "Gage Roads.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 8 November 1937. p. 17. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "GAGE ROADS.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 1 November 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Fremantle Harbour war time role Fremantle Ports website
  6. ↑ "Gage Roads.". The Daily News (Perth: National Library of Australia). 15 May 1914. p. 9 Edition: Third Edition. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Big Guns Do Their Bit.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 3 April 1954. p. 12. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "Coast Guns To Fire.". The West Australian (Perth: National Library of Australia). 17 May 1950. p. 17. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
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