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Only 11 km long and 4.5 km at it’s widest point, the local
Aboriginal people knew the Island as “Wadjemup”, thought to have the
meaning “land across the water”. The Island was named late in 1696
by the Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh who called it “Rottnest”
meaning rats nest, having mistaken the quokkas (see photo) for huge rats.
European settlement quickly changed the landscape of Rottnest, land
was cleared and tracks made. Firewood was gathered and the Island
was repeatedly burned. Aboriginal prisoners often used fires as an
aid in hunting Quokkas. In the late 1920s the Quokka population
was protected and began to soar and grazing heavily on the palatable
Acacia rostellifera. The impact of fire and Quokka grazing, resulted
in a huge reduction of the Island’s forest cover. This combined with
fire and wood collecting reduced the Island remaining naturally
forest area to about 7 per cent. The Rottnest Island Authority is
today actively “re-greening” the Island. with reforestation of the
Island’s woodland. Planted areas are protected from Quokkas by
fencing, allowing for some areas to regenerate naturally.
Rottnest
Island has a unique style of architecture dating back to the 1800’s.
It has a history as an Aboriginal penal settlement, a World War I
camp for prisoners of war, a place for salt gathering and processing
and a World War II military installation.
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Quokka on Rottnest Island © Clifford Shipton |
