Robbins Island (Tasmania)
 Robbins Island
Location of Robbins Island in the Bass Strait
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| Etymology | Charles Robbins |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Bass Strait |
| Coordinates | 40°41′24″S 144°54′36″E / 40.69000°S 144.91000°ECoordinates: 40°41′24″S 144°54′36″E / 40.69000°S 144.91000°E |
| Area | 9,900 ha (24,000 acres) |
| Area rank | 7th in Tasmania |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| State | Tasmania |
| LGA | Circular Head Council |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| Privately-owned | |
The Robbins Island is a 99-hectare (240-acre) island located in Bass Strait, lying off the northwest coast of Tasmania, Australia. The island, separated from the Tasmanian mainland by a highly tidal area known as Robbins Passage, lies south to the adjacent Walker Island.
Robbins Islands is the seventh largest island of Tasmania and is the largest freehold island in Tasmania. Over the years Robbins Island has changed ownership and to this day remains privately owned.
The island was part of the territory of the indigenous North West tribe spanning from Table Cape to the western side of Macquarie Harbour, where in particular, the Parperloihener band resided on Robbins Island prior to European colonisation. On 23 November 1802,Charles Robbins, first mate of Buffalo was sent in Cumberland, by Governor King to dissuade the French commodore Nicholas Baudin, with his two ships Géographe and Naturaliste from colonising Van Diemen's Land.
Baudin had revealed French plans to colonise Van Diemen's Land when drunk in a farewell party organised by the Governor, after sailing into Port Jackson where his crew were treated back to health from scurvy. Governor King would not accept French occupation of Van Diemen's Land and chartered the schooner Cumberland to which in 13 December 1802, Robbins used successfully, persuading Baudin to abandon French settlement on Van Diemen's Land. The schooner was chartered as larger ships were away and used for other maritime activities. From there along with Charles Grimes, Robbins sailed to Port Phillip, and actively explored the Yarra River in 1803 before returning to Port Jackson. It was during a subsequent trip to retrieve two Spanish ships which had been captured by a NSW trader's privateering expedition and hidden off the coast of Deal Island that in 1804 Robbins discovered Robbins island, which is named after him.
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Wikipedia