Kingscote, South Australia

The South Australian Company established its colony at Kingscote at Reeves Point on 27 July 1836, as South Australia's first official European settlement, the first settlers having arrived on the Duke of York,[9] and named for Henry Kingscote, one of the founding directors of the company.

It was early suggested that Kingscote could serve as the capital of South Australia, but the island's resources were insufficient to support such a large community; the South Australian Company moved almost six months later to Adelaide after sending surveyors to find a better site.

The history of the area is displayed in the museum in Hope Cottage, to the north of the town. Hope Cottage was one of the three earliest houses built in Kingscote, circa 1850, with the adjoining cottages of Faith and Charity. (Faith has been subsequently demolished.)

The Old Mulberry Tree at Reeves Point was planted in 1836 and still bears fruit. Reeves Point has been placed on the Australian Heritage Places List.[10][11]

The current town of Kingscote is now immediately to the south of the original Kingscote settlement at Reeves Point in the area originally known as Queenscliffe (the origin of the name of the Queenscliffe Hotel in Dauncey Street).[12]

Kingscote has a school offering years reception to 12 (R-12), a hospital, supermarket, post office and government offices. It is the administrative centre for the Kangaroo Island Council, whose offices have recently undergone a significant upgrade.

Recreational facilities include a sports centre and adjoining oval and netball courts.

In 2007, the Kingscote colony of little penguins' population was 868 adults and fell to 706 in 2010.[32] In 2011, it was believed to be either declining or stable.[33] In 2012, the population fell to 300 adults according to DEW figures.[32] In 2013, the Kingscote colony of little penguins had dropped to 20 birds, according to tour operator John Ayliffe.[34] Official 2013 census figures were greater, estimating 154 breeding adults, down 48 per cent from the previous year and 82 per cent since the population peak in 2007.[35]

Increasing populations of long-nosed fur seals are believed to be a factor in the decline. Other predators of penguins on Kangaroo Island include rats, dogs, cats, goannas, sea lions and sea eagles.[33] Since the 1990s, penguin tour operators have improved the nesting habitat in the visitation area at Kingscote, through vegetation, habitat protection and constructing boardwalks for tourists.[33] In October 2011, 15 dead penguin chicks were found near the Kingscote colony with their heads removed. A dog or cat attack was presumed to be the cause of death. A similar event also happened in 2010.[37]

Disease and declining fish stocks have also been blamed for declines in Little penguin numbers.[32]

Other colonies in South Australia have experienced dramatic declines since the 1990s. The nearest examples of colonies in decline are found in Encounter Bay (Granite Island, Wright Island and West Island) and at Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.[34]

Accounts of little penguins at Kingscote exist from the 1930s.[38]

Kingscote experiences a warm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csb), Trewartha: Csbl); with warm, dry summers; mild, relatively dry springs and autumns; and mild winters with moderate precipitation.[46]

There is also data at the airport in Kingscote, 12.0 km away. It experiences similar climatic conditions, but due to its inland location, the weather station has a greater seasonal difference between winter and summer; and the diurnal range is greater.

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  Commercial Street
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  Dauncey Street
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  Pelican feeding
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  Council chambers
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  Ozone Hotel

• Kingscote (disambiguation)
• Kingscote Airport
• List of little penguin colonies

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kingscote, South Australia.

• Hope Cottage
• Kangaroo Island