X-Nico

5 unusual facts about Rottnest Island


Charles Learmonth

On 6 January 1944, Learmonth led a formation of three No. 14 Squadron Bristol Beauforts on an exercise off Rottnest Island with ships of the US Navy.

Moaning frog

The Moaning Frog is native to the coast of south-western Western Australia, Rottnest Island and Bald Island.

No. 14 Squadron RAAF

On 6 January 1944 a Beaufort piloted by No. 14 Squadron's commanding officer, Wing Commander Charles Learmonth, crashed during an exercise with United States Navy warships off Rottnest Island; Learmonth and the other three airmen on board the aircraft were killed.

Pearling in Western Australia

This led to recruitment from the convicts on the "Native Prison" on Rottnest Island.

Synaphea spinulosa

Prior to this, the only known visit by Europeans to an area where S. spinulosa occurs was the voyage of Dutch mariner Willem de Vlamingh, who explored Rottnest Island and the Swan River in December 1696 and January 1697 respectively.


Dodonaea aptera

The species was published by Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel in 1845, based on specimens collected in 1839 at Garden Island, Rottnest Island, and Arthurs Head, Fremantle.

Gage Roads

The Rottnest Channel Swim course (an annual swimming event) starts at Cottesloe beach and crosses Gage Roads before finishing at Rottnest Island.


see also

Cantonment Hill, Fremantle

The site includes the last remaining stand of pre-European settlement Rottnest Island Pine (Callitris preissii) on the mainland.