About the St Kilda Penguin colony

The St Kilda Penguins and Earthcare St Kilda

A brief history

Earthcare St Kilda first starting researching the little penguin colony in 1986 with just a few dedicated researchers. As the penguin colony grew, so did the team and responsibilities. The researchers noticed that the colony was gaining popularity with tourists and began “guiding” on weekends to educate the public and make sure the penguins were being looked after.

Jump ahead 35 years and Earthcare St Kilda had 30 research volunteers monitoring the colony fortnightly and around 180 penguin guides educating the public nightly (even on Christmas and NYE!) The penguins were becoming a very popular attraction and tourists were placing pressure on this urban colony… and then COVID-19 happened. The breakwater was closed and the penguins received some much needed respite. Unfortunately for the humans, we lost access to the penguins and their cute little waddles.

Research Coordinator Flossy Sperring interviewed penguin guides during the COVID-19 lockdown period to showcase the importance of the St Kilda penguins.

The breakwater is still closed due to pier redevelopment works which will see a new viewing boardwalk constructed away from the breakwater to prevent interactions between people and penguins. We are consulting with Parks Victoria and Simpsons Construction to ensure penguins stay safe throughout the construction process.

We hope to resume penguin guide activities when the new pier is complete in 2024 and are collaborating with Monash University to continue research and establish a new monitoring program.

The history of the St Kilda Breakwater

Constructed for the 1956 Olympics Games, it soon became home to a colony of Little Penguins which currently numbers around 1,400.

Although not constructed with Little Penguins in mind, the volcanic rocks used to construct the breakwater proved to be ideal burrows for Little Penguins:

  • The thermal properties of the rocks keep the penguins relatively warm in winter and cool in summer, and
  • The gaps between the rocks allow penguins, their eggs and their chick to remain well hidden from seagulls and other potential predators.

Local community concern for the safety of the penguins was instrumental in the formation of Earthcare.  Our campaign to formally protect the colony resulted in the St Kilda Breakwater being declared a Wildlife Management Cooperative Area in 1992.

What is a Wildlife Management Cooperative Area?

A Wildlife Management Cooperative Area is a piece of public land which has been set aside to protect native wildlife, such as the St Kilda Little Penguin Colony.

Although you are able to walk along part of the St Kilda breakwater which has been declared a Wildlife Management Cooperative Area, you should be aware of the following restrictions which apply in order to protect the Little Penguin Colony:

  • All domestic animals, including dogs on leads, are forbidden from entering the St Kilda breakwater.
  • You should not climb on the rocks on the foreshore side of the breakwater; these rocks are home to the Little Penguins.
  • No white light, including camera flashlights or torches, can be used when standing on the breakwater; white light shone in the direction of a Little Penguin, whether on land or at sea, will cause it distress.
  • All rubbish, including fishing line, must be removed from the breakwater; each year a number of penguins caught in rubbish and discarded fishing line need to be rescued.

Refurbishment of the Breakwater

The refurbishment of the breakwater which commenced in 1998, was a massive four-year project involving 22,000 tonnes of rock. Completed in June 1998, the operation was a complete success, in which left the Little Penguin colony unharmed by the impact of the works, largely due to the hard work by Neil Blake.

Reconstruction of the breakwater eliminated previous vegetation, but knowledge gained in past endeavours to “green” the breakwater had given Earthcare St Kilda a valuable insight into the most appropriate species and methods for replanting in the area.