South
Australian Projects
Boston
Island
Location
Zone 53
Map 6028
E 585000 - N 6160000
Boston Island is located 3.5 kilometres north east and
offshore of Port Lincoln.
History
There is little documentary evidence of the whaling station
at Boston Island. Following are extracts of the two references:
"A local whaling company has been established, and
from the great number of whales frequently seen in this bay, the operations
of the company have every likelihood of success if managed properly"
(South Australian, 24 March 1840) .
"A station will be on Boston Island with a signal post
on the top, and the boats to pull outside the islands, and to be assisted
when practicable by boats from the town" (South Australian, 28 March
1840).
While documentary evidence suggests the development of
a whaling station at Boston Island there is no evidence that one was ever
constructed and if it was, then it closed down without any success. There
is no reference to the whaling station at Boston Island or the export of
oil from this Island.
Archaeology
No archaeology has been carried out on Boston Island due
to the lack of evidence that the island ever took part in the whaling enterprise
as it was intended to.
References
Kostoglou, P. and McCarthy, J. 1991. Whaling and Sealing
Sites in South Australia. Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology,
Special Publication, No:6, p23.
Newspapers
South Australian - 24/3/1840
By Rebecca O'Reilly
Return to South Australian Whaling Site
Index
