The Ecological History of Shark Bay

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Invasive populations and species icon Invasive Populations & Species

Hamelin Station shearing shed
Hamelin Station shearing shed

1869

European settler activity icon Invasive populations and species icon

The first pastoral sheep station was built on Dirk Hartog Island.

Sheep drinking from a trough
Sheep drinking from a trough

1960s

European settler activity icon Invasive populations and species icon

Sheep populations reached about 142,000 in Shark Bay.

Goats in enclosure
Goats in enclosure

1995

Invasive populations and species icon Reintroduction of species icon Project Eden icon

Project Eden was launched with the aim of removing pastoral and feral animals, and reintroducing native species.

Dirk Hartog Island landscape Ptilotus
Dirk Hartog Island landscape & ptilotus flower

2012

Invasive populations and species icon Reintroduction of species icon Return to 1616 project icon

The Dirk Hartog Island National Park: Return to 1616 project was started with the goal of returning the island to its state before the first Europeans arrived in Shark Bay by removing invasive species and reintroducing native ones.

Sheep at Hamelin station
Sheep at Hamelin station

2016

Invasive populations and species icon Return to 1616 project icon

As part of the Return to 1616 project, all sheep were removed from Dirk Hartog Island.

Goats on Dirk Hartog Island
Goats on Dirk Hartog Island

2017

Invasive populations and species icon Return to 1616 project icon

All goats were removed from Dirk Hartog Island as part of the Return to 1616 project.

Feral cat at camera trap
Feral cat at camera trap

2018

Invasive populations and species icon Reintroduction of species icon Return to 1616 project icon

As part of the Return to 1616 project, feral cats were eradicated from Dirk Hartog Island. In the same year, banded hare-wallabies and rufous hare-wallabies were reintroduced to the island.