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Eddystone
Native name: no known native connection
	Pedra Branca and Eddistone; Tasmans Head
	Eddystone Location off the southern coast of Tasmania
Etymology	Eddystone Lighthouse in Devon, England.
Geography
Location	Southern Ocean
Coordinates	43°51′18″S 147°00′00″E / 43.85500°S 147.00000°E
Highest elevation	30 m (100 ft)
Administration
	Australia
State	Tasmania
Region	Southern
Demographics
Population	0

Eddystone is a tower-shaped rock or small island, located in the Southern Ocean, off the southern coast of Tasmania, Australia.^[2] The island is situated approximately 27 km (17 mi) from the South East Cape on a bearing of 149° and is contained within the Southwest National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site. An erosional remnant of the Tasmanian mainland with an elevation of 30 m (98 ft) above sea level, the island is estimated to have separated from the Tasmanian mainland at least 15,000 years ago.^[3]

Features and location

Eddystone is known for its inaccessibility and distinctive shape, described by Abel Tasman in 1642 as "a tall, obtuse, square tower".^[4] A painting^[5] from 1823 bears this out, and also shows its proximity to Pedra Branca, 2.2 km (1.4 mi) to the west.

Approximately 50 m (160 ft) off Eddystone there is a recently^[when?] publicised surf break named Eddystone Rock. Surfers were shown the location by local fishermen, who have known about the break for many years.^{[citation needed]}

The island has negligible plant life. Seabirds recorded as nesting there include Australasian gannets, black-faced cormorants and fairy prions.^[6] Australian and New Zealand fur seals haul-out on the lower ledges when seas are not too rough.^[1]

Important Bird Area

Together with the nearby Pedra Branca and Sidmouth Rock the island constitutes the 2 ha (4.9-acre) Pedra Branca Important Bird Area (IBA), identified as such by BirdLife International because it supports over 1% of the world populations of shy albatrosses and Australasian gannets.^[7]