Named after Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales,
Phillip Island forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of
Western Port. It is 26 km (16 mi) long and 9 km (5.6 mi) wide, with an
area of about 100 km (39 sq mi). It has 97 km (60 mi) of coastline and
is part of the Bass Coast Shire.
A 640 m (2,100 ft) concrete bridge
(originally a wooden bridge) connects the mainland town San Remo with
the island town New haven. In the 2011 census the island's permanent
population was 9,406, compared to 7,071 in 2001. During the summer, the
population swells to 40,000. 60% of the island is farmland devoted to
grazing of sheep and cattle. Churchill Island and the area around it
served as the location for the 1977 Australian film Summer field
