Rotamah Island Bird Observatory

Rotamah Island Bird Observatory was a birdwatching research station on Rotamah Island in the Gippsland Lakes National Park, eastern Victoria, Australia, active from 1979 to 2001.

About Rotamah Island Bird Observatory

Founded in 1979 by Birds Australia as the organisation's second bird observatory, Rotamah Island was set up to give researchers and visitors a base for studying and enjoying the birdlife of the Gippsland Lakes region. It operated from “Overstrand,” a homestead built in 1908 on what had previously been a farming property.

History

The island's eucalypt woodland and its mix of freshwater and marine habitats, reachable via a causeway to Ninety Mile Beach, made it a popular destination — notable enough that Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales visited in 1985. A small population of introduced Hog Deer also roamed the island. In 2001, lease negotiations between Birds Australia and Parks Victoria broke down, ending the organisation's decades-long association with the site.

Location & getting there

Rotamah Island sits within the Gippsland Lakes National Park in eastern Victoria, Australia, a wetland and coastal landscape known for its birdlife and relatively low light pollution once you're away from the region's towns.

Visiting Rotamah Island Bird Observatory

The observatory itself is no longer operating; if you're planning a visit to Rotamah Island or the wider Gippsland Lakes National Park today, check current Parks Victoria access information before you go.

See your named star from here

Wherever you stand under the Gippsland Lakes' open skies, the coordinates of a star named through Star Register point to the same fixed spot. Name a star or explore the star catalogue to find yours before you head out.