Dorre Island is one of three islands that make up the Bernier and Dorre Island Nature Reserve in the Shark Bay World Heritage area in Western Australia. The island was named after Peter Dorre, the pilot of a Dutch vessel, the Eendracht, in 1616.Australia Pilot: North, northwest and west coasts between the ... United States. Hydrographic Office – 1920 "In 1616, the Eendracht, of Amsterdam, made Shark Bay, and Dorre Island was named after Peter Dorre, her pilot. The coast northward of Shark Bay was named Endracht Land. In 1619, Edel gave his name to the district southward of Shark Bay; ..."

It was, with Bernier Island, a lock hospital location in the early 1900s.

Geography

It is located at the north-western corner of the World Heritage area, almost due west of Carnarvon, Western Australia. It is separated from Bernier Island to its north by a gap with a depth of .

Cape St Cricq is the southernmost point, while Cape Boullanger is the northernmost point of the Island.

Due to its location south of Bernier, and on the northern side of the opening into Shark Bay where Cape Inscription on Dirk Hartog Island lies to the south, some wrecks and remains have been found.

Fauna The banded hare-wallaby and rufous hare-wallaby are both threatened mammal species that were once found on the mainland but are now both restricted to Dorre and Bernier Island. The rufous hare-wallaby is being reintroduced to mainland Australia.

See also

List of islands in Shark Bay

References