History
- According to Aboriginal tribal songs, the Bunarong Tribe lived and hunted on French Island, until they were massacred by a warring Gippsland tribe.
- April 1802 - First discovered by Europeans when a French expedition from the ship La Naturaliste explored the area, naming it Île de Françoise, since anglicised as French Island.
- 1847 - First settled by William and John Gardner.
- 1880s - Koalas introduced to the island.
- 1890s - Establishment of several village settlements, under Government settlement programs. Planting of chicory and establishment of some 30 chicory kilns.
- 17 July 1916 McLeod Prison Farm opens.
- 1967 - The SECV proposes the island as the site of the first Nuclear power plant in Australia.
- 1975 - McLeod Prison Farm closes.
- July 1997 - about 70 per cent of the island declared as part of the French Island National Park.
- May 2002 - waters directly north of French Island declared as French Island Marine National Park.
Tankerton Post Office opened on 3 September 1890 and closed in 1994. It reopened in 2001 under the name French Island. A Fairhaven office was also open from 1911 until 1957.
Read more about this topic: French Island (Victoria)
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