Mem. Nat. Mus. Vict., 15, 1947 



MUD ISLANDS, PORT PHILLIP BAY 



Their Geology, Botany and Entomology. 



Fig. 1. 



The group of islands in Port Phillip Bay known as Mud Islands 

 was discovered in 1802, but although only 30 miles from Mel- 

 bourne it is seldom visited. From time to time men have 

 been employed there digging guano, others have interested them- 

 selves in oyster culture, they have been visited by fishermen and 

 by bird lovers studying bird migration, and a few of the more 

 obvious facts relating to the group have been recorded, but no 

 systematic examination of these islands has hitherto been 

 attempted. In November, 1945, 143 years after its discovery, a 

 party of scientists organized by the National Museum of Vic- 

 toria, went there to investigate the group in relation to their 

 several spheres of activity, R. A. Kcble to investigate its geolo- 

 gical history, S. R, Mitchell, to ascertain whether there were any 

 traces of a former native habitation, J. H. Willis to investigate 

 its flora, and A. N. Burns, its insect life. 



The investigation was of peculiar importance as it was con- 

 sidered that the islands are of recent origin — according to Keble, 

 at the most little more than 3,500 years old — and that they would 

 furnish the material for an interesting ecological survey. 



Histoky and Geology of Mud Islands. 



By B. A. Keble, Balacontologist, National Museum of Victoria. 



The group of islands was first sighted on Monday, February 15, 

 1802, by Acting-Lieut. John Murray when he was working along 

 the south shore of Port King, afterwards renamed Port Phillip 

 by Governor King, to his first anchorage near Point King. He 

 recorded in his log (Lee, 1915). 



... to the N.E. by N., about 5 miles from the south shore lies a cluster 

 of small rocky islands and all round them a shoal of sand; plenty of swans and 

 pelicans were found on them when the boat was down, from which I named 

 them Swan Isles . . At half-past 3 p.m. we got to anchor in a sandy cove in 

 7 fathoms of water, bottom fine sand — Swan Islands bearing N.E. by N. dis- 

 tance 5 miles, a bold rocky point which I named Point Paterson E.S.E. 1J 

 miles, a long sandy point named Point Palmer west, 1| miles, and the nearest 

 point of the shore S.W. \ of a mile distant. 



Murray's description of the group as a " cluster of small rocky 

 islands" was an impression gained, doubtless, from a distance, 



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