Attractions
Brief History
Kangaroo Island was discovered and named by Captain Matthew Flinders aboard the HMS Investigator in 1802, narrowly beating the Frenchman Nicolas Baudin aboard LeGeographe. Baudin returned and mapped the southern and western coastlines, hence the French names that are still evident today.
Not only did the first formal settlement in South Australia take place on Kangaroo Island at Reeves Point, but also the first lighthouse in the state was constructed at Cape Willoughby. With such a rugged coastline it is no surprise that over 50 ships came to grief in these waters with many lives lost.
Evidence has been found to indicate the existence of aborigines on the island thousands of years ago but their subsequent disappearance remains a mystery.
