The story of this place
At South Point, 39°08'06"S, you're standing at the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland—closer to Antarctica than to Cairns. Wilsons Promontory, called 'Yiruk' or 'Wamoon' by the Gunai/Kurnai and Boon wurrung peoples, has been inhabited for at least 6,500 years. George Bass first sighted it in January 1798, initially calling it 'Furneaux's Land' before Matthew Flinders convinced him otherwise. The name honours Thomas Wilson, a London apothecary and patron of natural history.
The Prom has been a national park since 1898, but during World War II it was closed to the public and used as a commando training ground. The park contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria, with granite mountains, pristine beaches, and abundant wildlife. Emus, wombats, kangaroos, and koalas roam freely. The 2011 floods were so severe that visitors had to be evacuated by helicopter when the only access road was cut. The Tidal River settlement is the only town within the park, 30 kilometres from the entrance.