Penneshaw, South Australia

Penneshaw
Penneshaw harbour
Penneshaw
Coordinates: 35°43′06″S 137°56′25″E / 35.71833°S 137.94028°E / -35.71833; 137.94028
CountryAustralia
StateSouth Australia
RegionFleurieu and Kangaroo Island
LGA
Location
Government
 • State electorate
 • Federal division
Population
 • Total269 (SAL 2021)
Time zoneUTC+9:30 (ACST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+10:30 (ACDT)
Postcode
5222
CountyCarnarvon
Mean max temp18.1 °C (64.6 °F)
Mean min temp12.8 °C (55.0 °F)
Annual rainfall538.4 mm (21.20 in)
Localities around Penneshaw
Backstairs Passage Backstairs Passage Backstairs Passage
Kangaroo Head Penneshaw Ironstone
Kangaroo Head Dudley East Ironstone
Location
Climate
Adjoining localities

Penneshaw is a township in the Australian state of South Australia located on the northeast coast of the Dudley Peninsula on Kangaroo Island about 107 kilometres (66 mi) south of the state capital of Adelaide. It is the island's main ferry port with regular services from Cape Jervis. Penneshaw features a Maritime and Folk Museum, and evening tours to a colony of little penguin, the only species of penguin to breed in Australian waters. At the 2011 census, Penneshaw had a population of 276.

Originally known as Hog Bay due to the pigs released by French Commander Nicholas Baudin, Penneshaw was named after a combination of the names of Dr. F.W.Pennefather, private secretary to Governor Jervois, and Flora Louisa Shaw, The Times colonial editor, a visitor to Government House.

South Australia's first modern seawater desalination plant was established at Penneshaw in the 1990s, to supplement the town's limited dam water supply.