Cape Paterson

History

The Bunurong Aboriginal people used this stretch of coast for thousands of years prior to white occupation. The Boakoolawal clan lived in the Kilcunda area south of the Bass River, and the Yowenjerre were west of the Tarwin River along what is now the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park. Middens containing charcoal and shellfish mark the location of their campsites along the coast. Explorer William Hovell first discovered black coal in the cliffs at Cape Paterson in 1826. This and other sites were rediscovered 10 years later by Samuel Anderson who settled at Bass in 1835. In 1858, 2,000 tons of coal were hauled to the coast at Cape Paterson and taken by whaleboat to ships for transportation to Melbourne. Tram rails on the beach are reminders of further attempts to remove coal from the area later in the century, which still remain on the beach to the west of No 2 surf beach.

Most-observed species

• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  3,387
• Superb Fairywren

  Malurus cyaneus (Ellis, 1782) · Aves
  2,986
• Gray Fantail

  Rhipidura albiscapa Gould, 1840 · Aves
  2,724
• Red Wattlebird

  Anthochaera carunculata (Shaw, 1790) · Aves
  2,536
• Welcome Swallow

  Hirundo neoxena Gould, 1842 · Aves
  2,454
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,444
• Little Wattlebird

  Anthochaera chrysoptera (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  2,196
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,134

Most recent

• M 3.3 — 2026-05-09
  4 km ESE of Mirboo North, Australia
• M 4.3 — 2024-02-08
  3 km E of Leongatha, Australia
• M 2.9 — 2021-11-05
  4 km S of Rosebud, Australia
• M 2.8 — 2015-03-10
  3 km NNE of Pakenham, Australia
• M 3.6 — 2014-12-03
  4 km SW of Pakenham, Australia
• M 4.6 — 2012-07-20
  8 km S of Trafalgar, Australia