French Island, Administrative division in Victoria, Australia.
French Island is an island located within Western Port Bay in Victoria, covering approximately 218 square kilometers. The landscape comprises marshy areas in the northwest and wooded hills throughout the rest of the terrain.
French explorer Nicolas Baudin named the island Ile de France in the early 1800s, marking French maritime presence in southern Australian waters. The naming by this sea explorer reflects the European exploration activities of that era in the region.
The Bunurong people used this land as traditional hunting grounds, collecting shellfish and swan eggs, with shell middens marking their presence. Visitors can still see these traces woven into the landscape today.
Visitors reach the island via passenger ferries departing from Stony Point, while a separate vehicle ferry from Corinella transports supplies. Being island-based means regular ferry connections are essential for access to the location.
The island is home to an isolated population of disease-free koalas and several marsupial species including rare potoroos in protected habitats. This animal diversity stems from the remote location and protection from outside threats.
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