St Alouarn Islands

In March 1772, the crew of the French naval vessel Le Gros Ventre, commanded by Louis Aleno de St Aloüarn, became the first Europeans known to have visited the islands.

A few weeks later, at Dirk Hartog Island, St Aloüarn formally claimed part of Western Australia for France.

The islands were named after St Aloüarn in 1792, by Antoine d'Entrecasteaux, as the leader of a subsequent French expedition.

The best-known wreck near the islands was that of the Aberdeen White Star ship SS Pericles on an uncharted rock on 13 March 1910,[3] within sight of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in daylight hours.

In 2013 - 2013, the Western Australian government, through the Royalties for Regions programme,[16] constructed a new harbour outside of the Hardy Inlet area of the Blackwood River mouth.