Cape Mentelle

Headland in Western Australia

Cape Mentelle is a limestone headland on the Indian Ocean coast of south-western Western Australia. It is within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, just north of the mouth of the Margaret River and 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the town of Margaret River. It lies on the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, halfway between Cape Naturaliste 50 km (31 mi) to the north, and Cape Leeuwin 50 km (31 mi) to the south, on the route of the Cape to Cape walking track.

History

The cape was named on 4 February 1803 by French navigator Nicolas Baudin, on his expedition to Australia, after Edme Mentelle (1730-1815), a French geographer, historian and cartographer.^[1] It has given its name to a well known Margaret River winery, Cape Mentelle Vineyards.

References

^ "Cape Mentelle". Naming Australia’s Coastline. Discovery and Exploration of Australia. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.

33°57′43″S 114°58′50″E / 33.96194°S 114.98056°E / -33.96194; 114.98056

Australian places named by French explorers in the 18th and 19th centuries

South Australia

Western Australia

Cape Bouvard
Cape Clairault
Cape Freycinet
Cape Mentelle
Cape Naturaliste
Faure Island
Gantheaume Point
Geographe Bay
Lancelin Island
Middle Island (Iles du Milieu)
Peron Peninsula
Recherche Archipelago (L’Archipel de la Recherche)

Only places with the name still in use in either the original or anglicised version are listed above. Many names have been anglicised; for these the original French name appears in brackets.