Furneaux Islands
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The Furneaux Islands are a group of islands in the eastern part of Bass Strait. They are part of the Australian state of Tasmania and include Flinders Island (the largest,) Cape Barren, Clarke and Preservation Islands. Agriculture is the only industry with cattle breeding and fattening, lambs, fine wool and muttonbird hunting the main activities. The main town is Whitemark.
They were discovered by - and are named after - Tobias Furneaux, James Cook’s second-in- command in his second voyage - 1772-75 - whilst his ship, “Adventure”, was separated from Cook’s own vessel in 1773. The first white settlers were sealers and whalers who interbred with the local Tasmanian Aborigines – aspects of this culture are still apparent today.