Baird Bay

Baird Bay is a small fishing village located 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of Streaky Bay on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. It is situated on the east coast of a bay named Baird Bay which opens into the north end of Anxious Bay.^[7]

Baird Bay South Australia
The isolated waters of Baird Bay
Baird Bay
Coordinates	33°08′51″S 134°21′47″E[1]
Population	5 (SAL 2021)[2]
Established	12 April 2001[3]
Postcode(s)	5671
Elevation	1 m (3 ft)[citation needed]
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACST (UTC+10:30)
LGA(s)	District Council of Streaky Bay[1]
Region	Eyre Western[1]
County	Robinson[1]
State electorate(s)	Flinders[4]
Federal division(s)	Grey[5]
Mean max temp[6] Mean min temp[6] Annual rainfall[6] 23.1 °C 74 °F 12.2 °C 54 °F 378.0 mm 14.9 in
Localities around Baird Bay: Baird Bay (body of water) Calca Tyringa Baird Bay (body of water) Baird Bay Tyringa Anxious Bay Baird Bay (body of water) Anxious Bay Anxious Bay
Footnotes	Adjoining localities [1]

Nomenclature

The locality is named after the nearby bay which was named after James Baird, who settled on the shores of Anxious Bay in 1850 before being speared by local Aboriginals on 2 November 1850. The bay was known as Beard's Bay until 5 December 1940 when it was renamed to Baird Bay by proclamation.^{[1][8][9][10]}

Ecotourism

Although the township is small, Baird Bay has become a tourist attraction due to its Australian sea lion colony. Local tour guides take small groups of tourists for interactive swimming sessions with the sea lions and Bottlenose dolphins.^[11] It is regarded as one of the best dive or snorkeling destinations in South Australia.^[11] The remote waters of Baird Bay are also popular for recreational fishing.^[12]

The isolated town has very limited facilities, with only a few houses, a camping ground and boat ramp. The nearest town for supplies is Streaky Bay, 51 kilometres (32 miles) north.

The 2016 Australian census which was conducted in August 2016 reported that Baird Bay had a population of 3 people.^[13]

Baird Bay is located within the federal division of Grey, the state electoral district of Flinders and the local government area of the District Council of Streaky Bay.^[5][4][1]

References

1. "Search results for 'Baird Bay, LOCB' with the following datasets being selected – 'NPW and Conservation Properties'. 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Counties', 'Government Towns', 'Local Government Areas','Postcodes', 'SA Government Regions', 'Gazetteer' and 'Roads'". Location SA Map Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Baird Bay (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
3. Lawson, Robert (12 April 2001). "GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ACT 1991 Notice to Assign Names and Boundaries to Places (in the District Council of Streaky Bay)" (PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. South Australian Government. p. 1587. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
4. "District of Flinders". Electoral Commission SA. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
5. "Federal electoral division of Grey". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
6. "Monthly climate statistics: Summary statistics STREAKY BAY (nearest weather station)". Commonwealth of Australia, Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
7. South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors (DMH) (1985), The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs, Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia, p. chart 39, ISBN 978-0-7243-7603-2
8. Manning, Geoffrey. "South Australian Names - B" (PDF). Manning Index of South Australian History. State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
9. Rudall, R.J. (5 December 1940). "ALTERATION OF NAMES OF TOWNS" (PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. South Australian Government. p. 1286. Retrieved 6 June 2018. (the list also includes an island and a railway station as well as a bay called Baird Bay)
10. "An Interesting South Australian Book". Gadfly. 25 November 1908. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
11. Hutchison, Stuart (1 December 2001). "Travellin' South". Australasia Scuba Diver: 18–30.
12. "Great fishing and friendly campers - Baird Bay, South Australia Traveller Reviews". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Baird Bay". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 June 2018.

External links

• Baird Bay webpage on Streaky Bay (LGA) Official Tourism Website