Indigenous heritage The area surrounding North-West Bay lies within the traditional lands of the
Nuenonne people, a band of the South-East Tasmanian Aboriginal nation. The Nuenonne inhabited Bruny Island and adjacent mainland areas, including the D'Entrecasteaux Channel region, for over 34,000 years. They engaged in seasonal migrations, utilising bark canoes to navigate the waterways for hunting, fishing, and trade. The bay and its resources held significant cultural and spiritual value for the Nuenonne people.
European exploration In April 1792, the French expedition led by Rear Admiral
Bruni d'Entrecasteaux arrived in the region aboard the ships
Recherche and
Espérance, during their search for the lost expedition of
La Pérouse. The expedition charted various parts of the Tasmanian coast, including the channel now bearing d'Entrecasteaux's name. They named the large bay at the top of the channel "Baie du Nord-Ouest" (North-West Bay) and anchored there to collect fresh water. Observations of Aboriginal activity, such as smoke and footpaths, were recorded during their stay. In 1793, British explorer
Captain John Hayes entered the same body of water during his voyage aboard the ships
Duke of Clarence and
Duchess. Unaware of d'Entrecasteaux's prior naming, Hayes referred to the bay as "Fairlies Harbour" and assigned English names to several geographic features in the area. Although some of Hayes's names were adopted, the French designation for North-West Bay ultimately prevailed. ==Geography and use==