Lancelin, Western Australia

Lancelin is a small fishing and tourist town 127 km north of Perth, Western Australia. It is within the Shire of Gingin at the end of Wanneroo Road (State Route 60), and a few kilometres from the start of the Indian Ocean Drive.

Lancelin
Western Australia
View of the Indian Ocean, south of the Lancelin pier.
Lancelin
Coordinates31.014°S 115.33°E / -31.014; 115.33
Population726 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)6044
Elevation6 m (20 ft)
Location
  • 115 km (71 mi) NNW of Perth
  • 77 km (48 mi) SW of Moora
  • 84 km (52 mi) S of Jurien Bay
LGA(s)Shire of Gingin
State electorate(s)Moore
Federal Division(s)Pearce

Lancelin is close to the shipwreck site of the Vergulde Draeck or Gilt Dragon that was wrecked on rocks close to shore in 1656.[2] The town has a permanent population of over 600, and swells to 2,500 during the peak holiday period around Christmas - New Year.

History

The town's name originates from nearby Lancelin Island which was named after P.J. Lancelin the scientific writer by Captain Nicolas Baudin in 1801 during the Frenchman's expedition.[3]

The area was initially a holiday camping place through the 1940s and holiday shacks were probably built in the area during this time but interest in the area grew as it was designated as a possible port to be utilised by the crayfish, or lobster fishery.

Lancelin was gazetted in 1950 and was originally named "Wangaree", the Aboriginal word for fish. The area was renamed in 1953 after a request from the Gingin Road Board.[4]

On 29 June 1974, two sounding rockets for solar research during a solar total eclipse were launched from Lancelin.[5]

The Australian military has used the Lancelin Defence Training Area to the north of the town for training exercises since the 1940s.[6][7]

Recreational

Two islands are located just off the coast in the bay; Edwards Island and Lancelin Island.

Lancelin Island Nature Reserve (500 metres off shore) is managed for the conservation of flora and fauna. The island is an important sanctuary for a variety of breeding seabirds, for several resident landbirds and lizards and for resting sea lions. A variety of marine, wading and land birds may be observed.

Kitesurfing and windsurfing are popular in the ocean off Lancelin, as are sandboarding and 4-wheel driving on the beaches and in the dunes behind the town.

Every March the annual colour blast event is held on the beach.[8]

The Lancelin District Community Association is the holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest off-road convoy[9]

Climate

Lancelin has a hot-summer mediterranean climate that is consistently warm throughout the year, resembling a typical subtropical climate but with a dry summer.

Climate data for Lancelin
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 46.0
(114.8)		 45.3
(113.5)		 43.6
(110.5)		 37.5
(99.5)		 32.0
(89.6)		 29.4
(84.9)		 27.7
(81.9)		 29.0
(84.2)		 32.4
(90.3)		 39.0
(102.2)		 40.7
(105.3)		 43.2
(109.8)		 46.0
(114.8)
Average high °C (°F) 29.2
(84.6)		 30.0
(86.0)		 28.5
(83.3)		 25.5
(77.9)		 22.7
(72.9)		 20.2
(68.4)		 19.2
(66.6)		 19.3
(66.7)		 20.5
(68.9)		 22.5
(72.5)		 24.9
(76.8)		 27.3
(81.1)		 24.2
(75.6)
Average low °C (°F) 17.6
(63.7)		 18.1
(64.6)		 16.7
(62.1)		 14.6
(58.3)		 12.4
(54.3)		 10.8
(51.4)		 9.9
(49.8)		 9.9
(49.8)		 10.5
(50.9)		 11.9
(53.4)		 14.1
(57.4)		 16.2
(61.2)		 13.6
(56.5)
Record low °C (°F) 8.6
(47.5)		 8.3
(46.9)		 6.3
(43.3)		 4.4
(39.9)		 3.3
(37.9)		 1.6
(34.9)		 1.5
(34.7)		 0.1
(32.2)		 1.0
(33.8)		 3.2
(37.8)		 4.4
(39.9)		 4.4
(39.9)		 0.1
(32.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 8.9
(0.35)		 12.0
(0.47)		 14.1
(0.56)		 30.8
(1.21)		 82.6
(3.25)		 119.5
(4.70)		 120.7
(4.75)		 91.1
(3.59)		 56.4
(2.22)		 28.9
(1.14)		 20.9
(0.82)		 8.2
(0.32)		 592.3
(23.32)
Average precipitation days 2.0 2.1 3.5 7.0 12.0 15.4 16.6 15.4 12.6 8.2 5.4 3.0 103.2
Average relative humidity (%) 61 60 60 62 61 63 65 64 64 62 62 61 62
Source: [10]

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Lancelin (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  2. "Life on Perth - Lancelin coastline". 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  3. "50 Western Australian Facts and Trivia" (PDF). 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  4. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – L". Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  5. Lancelin, Encyclopedia Astronautica
  6. "Lancelin Training Area" (PDF). Department of Defence. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  7. "Lancelin Defence Training Area". Australian Defence Facilities. Nautilus Institute. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  8. https://thewest.com.au/news/offbeat/rainbow-explosion-at-lancelin-beach-for-colour-blast-ng-b88405716z<
  9. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/99623-largest-convoy-of-off-road-vehicles
  10. "Climate statistics for Lancelin". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
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