Phillip Island's Little Penguin and other bird species populations became the popular subjects of field naturalist and bird observer field trips from the late 19th century. By 1948 the decline of the Little Penguin population on the island was very evident due to fox predation. There were still many gaps in the knowledge about their breeding and other on-shore activities, as well as their feeding habits at sea. Various magazines and newspapers featured updates of information on occasion. This is an example.The article provides evidence of the level of knowledge about Phillip Island's Little/Fairy Penguins in the last 1940s. Photocopy of magazine or newspaper article. Three separate pages.phillip island, little penguins, fairy penguins, penguin rookeries, fox predation, penguin moult

The general public was fascinated by the nightly 'Penguin Parade' on Phillip Island. Many articles have been written about the birds and the Penguin Parade attraction since the 1930s. So many people spent their summer holidays on Phillip Island in one of the many guest houses, then caravan parks and holiday homes and a visit to the Penguin Parade by them and their visitors was very common during their holidays. Articles tended to be a mix of basic penguin behavior information and anthropomorphic descriptions. Accompanying photographs were almost invariably taken by flashlight (now illegal), or of penguins taken from their burrows during daylight hours for photo opportunities. The article provides evidence of the level of knowledge about Phillip Island's Little/Fairy Penguins at this time. (approx 1960?)Photocopy of 2 page magazine article. Black print. Images poor quality due old photocopy.little penguins, fairy penguins, eudyptula minor, phillip island penguin parade, dorothy vernon, penguin rookery, penguin behaviour, phillip island tourist attractions

The general public was fascinated by the nightly 'Penguin Parade' on Phillip Island. Many articles have been written about the birds and the Penguin Parade attraction since the 1930s. So many people spent their summer holidays on Phillip Island in one of the many guest houses, then caravan parks and holiday homes and a visit to the Penguin Parade by them and their visitors was very common during their holidays. Articles tended to be a mix of basic penguin behavior information and anthropomorphic descriptions. Accompanying photographs were almost invariably taken by flashlight (now illegal), or of penguins taken from their burrows during daylight hours for photo opportunities. This article, written in the 1950s, describes the management of the Penguin Parade at that time as being run by the Penguin Preservation Committee. This was before the Phillip Island Council took over running the Penguin Parade. The article provides evidence of the level of knowledge about Phillip Island's Little/Fairy Penguins at this time. (1957)single full-page magazine article, black ink on white paper. Photocopied from original, so photos appear as black and white.little penguins, fairy penguins, eudyptula minor, phillip island penguin parade, dorothy vernon, penguin rookery, penguin behaviour, phillip island tourist attractions

Cr J Gall was a councilor on the Borough of Wonthaggi Council. The Borough included Cape Paterson, where Cr Gall saw 5 little penguins on the beach. He described them as looking for somewhere to nest – that is, to dig burrows in the coast adjoining the Cape Paterson sandy beach. At that stage, the Wonthaggi state coal mine had been closed for 4 years and Wonthaggi had more emphasis on attracting different industries. There was little interest in flora and fauna of the area at that stage. Cr Gall’s unusual sighting of the Little Penguins possibly nesting at Cape Paterson attracted derision from the other councillors, and also a sarcastic Editor's Note from the newspaper's editor - none of which was not surprising for that era. The Borough of Wonthaggi was later amalgamated with the shires of Phillip Island and Bass, plus other areas of a couple of others local shires in 1994 to form Bass Coast Shire Council, which quickly moved to a heavy emphasis on flora, fauna and the tourism industry related to the environment generally.The article clearly demonstrates the disinterested if not dismissive attitude of the Borough of Wonthaggi councillors and the local newspaper editor at the time towards observations of flora and fauna. However, the article is also an interesting record of 5 Little Penguins being sighted at a beach where they were not known to have previously been seen.Photocopy of Single column newspaper article, black print on white paper. Article has curved line border design on top, sides. Cut off in copy at bottom edge. Five paragraphs in main article, and 1 paragraph at bottom marked: Editor's noteSEN 13 - 7 - 72 (South Gippsland Sentinel Times newspaper, 13th July, 1972)little penguins, fairy penguins, eudyptula minor, penguin behaviour, borough of wonthaggi, cr j gall

This letter to the editor of the Wonthaggi Express newspaper was written by “ONLOOKER (name and address/supplied)” in 1969 at a time when the Phillip Island Penguin Parade was under the management of the Phillip Island Shire Council. There was very limited parking at the Penguin Parade at that stage, and visitor numbers on any night were not capped. It was not uncommon for many cars to be parked along the main road leading to the Penguin Parade. This was a cause of a great deal of concern as visitors to the Parade walked back to their cars in the dark along the main road after the Parade finished some hours after sunset. At that time there was no designated Phillip Island newspaper, with the Wonthaggi Express also covering some news from Phillip Island.The letter articulates the concern felt by many local residents and visitors to the Penguin Parade with regard to the lack of parking and other infrastructure for tourism on Phillip Island, and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade in particular. Having been published in the Wonthaggi local newspaper of the time, the Wonthaggi Express, also indicates that either there was no local newspaper being published on Phillip Island, or that the author submitted to both local newspapers in order to get their message across.Single column letter to the editor in 3 short paragraphs. Black ink on white paper. Photocopy of original article. 10-4-69 EX (referring to 10th April 1969, Wonthaggi Express newspaper)phillip island penguin parade, letter to the editor, parking problems, wonthaggi express newspaper, phillip island conservation society historical archive

This article by journalist Bill Hitchings describes the state of the land market and cost of transporting building materials, Phillip Island, late 1960s. At that stage a number of outlying residential estates had been created, especially on Phillip Island South Coast and at Cowes West. While blocks of land on the outlier estates were very cheap and poorly serviced, the Cowes blocks were selling at $3000 per residential block. Hitchings quotes the owner of the Hollydene motel, Reg Orr, as saying that when the new bridge opens shortly he did not expect it to create a rush of visitors or residents.Bill Hitching was a well-known Melbourne journalist. This article gives an idea of land values on Phillip Island in the late 1960s, the fact that business owners were prepared to upgrade and expand their businesses to cater for extra potential demand on accommodation, and the strong identification of Phillip Island with the Phillip Island Penguin Parade in the minds of the general public in Melbourne. The significance of the new Phillip Island bridge to Phillip Islanders and visitors, and the cost of the bridge, are also outlined. Reg Orr was highly active in the business community of that era on Phillip Island. The Hollydene motel was a well-known Phillip Island accommodation venue.T-shaped article cutting with large image at top of article, dark due to poor photcopy. Double collumn text under photo clearly readable. Black and white.Sun/29/8/6 (?) Probably: Melbourne Sun newspaper, 29 August, 1969phillip island, phillip island tourism, development, hollydene motel, reg orr, phillip island penguin parade, land values, phillip island first bridge, phillip island 2nd bridge, transportation costs

Shire of Phillip Island managed the Phillip Island Penguin Parade during this era, and made several improvements for visitors including the building of a kiosk for food and beverage and some souvenirs. The building was located on a bitumen area at the base of the hill along with a brick toilet block. The area was actually raised from creek bed adjacent to the bitumen area, with Little Penguin rookery either side. The Shire tendered out the contract for the running of this kiosk on a 3 yearly basis.This small public notice from a Wonthaggi newspaper at a time when no local newspaper was being published on Phillip Island, marks the time when the Shire of Phillip Island began to increase provision of tourist facilities at the Penguin Parade. The number of visitors being 100,000 for the previous year is also an excellent indication of the popularity of the Penguin Parade. The listing of infrastructure available to the building is useful.Photocopy of Public Notice, Rectangular. Single collumn with heading, sub-heading, 5 paragraphs of text and Name and position of Shire Secretary. Black and white."30-7-64 EX" Meaning: 30.07.1964. Powlett Express newspaper.phillip island penguin parade, shire of phillip island, penguin parade kiosk, tender process, penguin parade visitor numbers, sec state electricity commission, stan harris phillip island shire secretary

The Premier, Sir Henry Bolte, the Victorian governors wife and daughter, and a retired ambassador to Germany visited the Summerland Peninsula, including the Nobbies and Penguin Parade during the 1960s.The article clearly shows that the government of the day felt the Penguin Parade was of great importance to the Victorian economy. Premier Bolte is described as "A great advocate for tourism". The VIPs were also shown the new kiosk and protective fencing at the Penguin Parade, significant because of criticism the management of the Parade and facilities there had received at that time.photocopy of newspaper article, cut from full page of newspaper23-1-64sir henry bolte, sir rohan delacombe, lady delacombe, , sir christopher and lady steele, phillip island penguin parade, nobbies, phillip island shire council, cr ernest booth, cr arthur j hamilton, penguin reserve committee, penguin parade visitor numbers

The article relates the journalist's visit to Phillip Island, starting from Melbourne and describing features along the way, then at San Remo on mainland side of Phillip Island bridge, then Newhaven on the other. Other places visited include the main town of Cowes, the jetty and beach there, and the Nobbies (Point Grant), with views of the Seal Rocks offshore through telescope at the Nobbies. The writer also visited Summerland beach, described as a surf beach, with penguin and mutton bird rookeries. While not specifically referring to the Penguin Parade, the writer says the spectacle of seeing the penguins coming ashore is not to be missed. The brief military colony at Rhyll and the first Victorian 'garden' planted at Churchill Island in 1801 are also mentionedArticle is significant because it is an early (1950s?) tourist guide to Phillip Island's most popular tourist destinations. 3 column text under map of Phillip Island. Black print on white paper. phillip island, newhaven, , westernport, surf beaches phillip island, summerland beach, penguins, mutton birds, the nobbies, point grant, seal rocks, cowes, nobbies blowhole, rhyll, churchill island, nobbies telescope