Islands Gallery

Recherche Archipelago

Recherche Archipelago,deformed granites between 1.2 and 1.1 billion years old. They first formed and solidified as Australia bonded with Antarctica. The old weld line was reactivated and deformed as Australia and Antarctica separated again over a billion years later. The granite of the Recherche Archipelago is the same age and origin as the granite of the Porongorup Range north of Albany (400 km to the west.)off Esperance coast, Western Australia

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Loading jetty at Kingston on Norfolk Island

Loading jetty at Kingston on Norfolk Island. The island's rugged coastline means that supply ships cannot anchor close and cargo has to be loaded onto lighters towed out by launches, five tonnes at a time. Depending on the wind, the monthly supplies are landed either here or on the other side of the island at Cascade Bay. Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, Australia

© Ian Beattie/AUSCAPE All rights reserved

Workers in a lighter in Cascade Bay about to be towed out by the motor launch alongside

Workers in a lighter in Cascade Bay about to be towed out by the motor launch alongside to the supply ship that has to anchor offshore due to the rugged coastline. On return to the jetty the cargo is lifted onto land by a movable crane. If the wind is unfavourable supplies are offloaded at Kingston but calm water is always a necessity. Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, Australia

© Ian Beattie/AUSCAPE All rights reserved