BRIEF HISTORY OF LINCOLN COVE
I have relied mainly on childhood memories,having frequented this area from an
early age,becoming familiar with the bushland and coastline which was pristine
in those times.Dates and locations may be approximate only.
I have relied mainly on childhood memories,having frequented this area from an
early age,becoming familiar with the bushland and coastline which was pristine
in those times.Dates and locations may be approximate only.
Lincoln Cove was originally a tidal salt water creek,ironically named Salt Creek.
This creek was a nursery for a variety of fish ,including Australian Salmon,King
George Whiting,Yellow Eye Mullet and Flounder.It was also a favourite haunt
of many water birds,among them Ducks,Stilts,Plovers,Comorants and both local
and migratory waders.
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SALT CREEK - MY IMPRESSION CIRCA 1950
Around 1945 a landfill rubbish dump was created at the Western arm of Salt Creek
and as a result of the oil and chemicals leached from it at high tide,the mangroves
and the ecology they supported were destroyed.I can recall a tall stand of mangroves
in the middle of the creek and the crab burrows beneath the roots,the last surviving
bush was buried along with the remains of aboriginal fish traps during the construction
of stage 1 of Lincoln Cove.
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GOOGLE EARTH - CIRCA 2012
At peak tides during Winter Salt Creek almost connected with the Northern beach of
Proper Bay,making Murray's & Billy Light's Points a virtual island.The only access
to this area was via the beach and rough limestone tracks,there was also a rifle range
situated parallel with the beach,restricting access when in use.This later became a light
plane landing strip and eventually a greyhound racing track,before becoming part of
the landfill dump.
REMAINING SALINE VEGETATION
At this time there is still enough native salt water vegetation to attract birds,but this
will eventually vanish as stage 3 of Lincoln Cove begins.While I am not completely
anti - development,I hope sanity prevails and serious consideration is given to
preserving part of the remaining environment for future generations before it's all gone.
TYPICAL WETLANDS SCENE
In the 1950s a causeway was constructed over th entrance to Salt Creek to access Port
Lincoln's sewer outlet at Billy Light's Point and a holiday village installed on on the
present site of the Leisure Centre.Later developments include B.H.P bulk sand facility,
boat ramp,picnic area and slipway.The B.H.P became redundant in the 1990's and
Ospreys still use the old jetty as a nesting site.
PRESENT DAY MARINA
The first stage of Lincoln Cove began in the 1980's and the second stage completed in
the 1990's,planning has begun for stage 3 with some native vegetation already removed.
This creek was a nursery for a variety of fish ,including Australian Salmon,King
George Whiting,Yellow Eye Mullet and Flounder.It was also a favourite haunt
of many water birds,among them Ducks,Stilts,Plovers,Comorants and both local
and migratory waders.
Around 1945 a landfill rubbish dump was created at the Western arm of Salt Creek
and as a result of the oil and chemicals leached from it at high tide,the mangroves
and the ecology they supported were destroyed.I can recall a tall stand of mangroves
in the middle of the creek and the crab burrows beneath the roots,the last surviving
bush was buried along with the remains of aboriginal fish traps during the construction
of stage 1 of Lincoln Cove.
At peak tides during Winter Salt Creek almost connected with the Northern beach of
Proper Bay,making Murray's & Billy Light's Points a virtual island.The only access
to this area was via the beach and rough limestone tracks,there was also a rifle range
situated parallel with the beach,restricting access when in use.This later became a light
plane landing strip and eventually a greyhound racing track,before becoming part of
the landfill dump.
At this time there is still enough native salt water vegetation to attract birds,but this
will eventually vanish as stage 3 of Lincoln Cove begins.While I am not completely
anti - development,I hope sanity prevails and serious consideration is given to
preserving part of the remaining environment for future generations before it's all gone.
TYPICAL WETLANDS SCENEIn the 1950s a causeway was constructed over th entrance to Salt Creek to access Port
Lincoln's sewer outlet at Billy Light's Point and a holiday village installed on on the
present site of the Leisure Centre.Later developments include B.H.P bulk sand facility,
boat ramp,picnic area and slipway.The B.H.P became redundant in the 1990's and
Ospreys still use the old jetty as a nesting site.
PRESENT DAY MARINAThe first stage of Lincoln Cove began in the 1980's and the second stage completed in
the 1990's,planning has begun for stage 3 with some native vegetation already removed.
