View source for Gage Roads

{{Short description|Channel offshore of Fremantle, Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Gage Roads
| native_name        =
| other_name         = 
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| image              = File:Gage roads from Burt Street Fremantle.jpg
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| caption            = North Quay and ships anchored in Gage Roads
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| location           = 
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| coordinates        = {{coord |region:AU-WA_type:waterbody_dim:18km |display=inline,title |format=dms}}{{EditAtWikidata|pid=P625}}
| type               = [[Depression (geology)|Basin]]
| etymology          = [[William Hall Gage]]
| part_of            = 
| inflow             = 
| rivers             = [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]]
| outflow            = 
| oceans             = [[Indian Ocean]]
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| basin_countries    = Australia
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| sections           = 
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| cities             = [[Fremantle]], [[Perth]]
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| pushpin_map             = Australia Western Australia
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'''Gage Roads''' is an outer harbour area of [[Fremantle Harbour]]. It is situated in the [[Indian Ocean]], offshore from [[Fremantle]], [[Western Australia]], and incorporates a deep water [[channel (geography)|sea channel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Navigating Fremantle Port Waters Waterways |date=January 2001 |website=Fremantle Ports |url=http://www.fremantleports.com.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Navigating%20Fremantle%20Waterways%20Guidelines.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317022717/http://fremantleports.com.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Navigating%20Fremantle%20Waterways%20Guidelines.PDF |archive-date=2017-03-17 |access-date=2024-06-17 }}</ref> Gage Roads serves both as a [[shipping lane]] and as an [[Anchorage (shipping)|anchorage]] for sea traffic heading towards the seaport of Fremantle. 

With [[Rottnest Island]] lying to the west of Gage Roads and [[Owen Anchorage]] and [[Cockburn Sound]] to the south, Gage Roads was the location of the [[1987 America's Cup]].

==Coastal geology==
The area is the most northern of one of four coastal basins formed from the flooding of a depression between [[Pleistocene]] [[aeolianite]] ridges running north-south, and the subsequent deposition of east-west [[Holocene]] banks. The [[seabed]] of Gage Roads is covered by [[seagrass]].

==Naming==
[[Image:Gage Roads, Fremantle.jpg|thumb|right|Bulk carrier ''Iran Yazo'' anchored in Gage Roads]]
In the context of maritime navigation, the term {{gloss |roads}} refers to a navigable waterway or channel that leads to a harbour or port. Gage Roads was named after Rear-Admiral [[William Hall Gage]], who was the [[Royal Navy]] [[Commander-in-Chief, East Indies]], when [[James Stirling (Royal Navy officer)|James Stirling]] was surveying the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]] in 1826.<ref>Gage Roads – named by Captain Stirling in 1827 after Rear Admiral Gage – ''[[The Sunday Times (Western Australia)|The Sunday Times]]'' (Perth), 4 Jan. 1987, p.32d</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Where on the Coast is That? |author=Ian Murray |author2=Marion Hercock |publisher=Hesperian Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0-85905-452-2|page=114}}</ref>

==Shipping reports==
Gage Roads is identified in shipping reports listing ships at anchor prior to entering the port of Fremantle.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41447007 |title=Gage Roads. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |location=Perth |date=8 November 1937 |access-date=8 April 2013 |page=17 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46488751 |title=GAGE ROADS. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |location=Perth |date=1 November 1938 |access-date=8 April 2013 |page=13 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Anchorage==
At certain times, over ten ships can be seen anchored in Gage Roads waiting to enter the port of Fremantle. In addition to these waiting ships, oversized ships that are unable to enter the inner harbour due to size or [[Draft (hull)|draft]] are required to anchor in Gage Roads.<ref>[http://www.fremantleports.com.au/About/History/Pages/Port%27s-wartime-role.aspx Fremantle Harbour war time role] Fremantle Ports website</ref>

==Cruising==
In the early 1900s, the local boat SS ''Zephyr'' regularly took cruises in Gage Roads.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79923918 |title=Gage Roads. |newspaper=[[Daily News (Perth, Western Australia)|The Daily News]] |location=Perth |date=15 May 1914 |access-date=8 April 2013 |page=9 Edition: Third Edition |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>  In the 2000s, {{ship|STS|Leeuwin II}} used Gage Roads for short sailing cruises.

==Wartime==
During the World War II era, the Leighton Guns (also known as [[Leighton Battery]]) on [[Buckland Hill Reservoir|Buckland Hill]] were part of the main [[anti-aircraft]] defence of the Gage Roads area.

The guns were still operable into the Gage Roads area in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49626838 |title=Big Guns Do Their Bit. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |location=Perth |date=3 April 1954 |access-date=8 April 2013 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47848114 |title=Coast Guns To Fire. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |location=Perth |date=17 May 1950 |access-date=8 April 2013 |page=17 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Swimming==
Swimmers in the [[Rottnest Channel Swim]] (an annual swimming event) start at [[Cottesloe, Western Australia|Cottesloe]] beach, cross Gage Roads, and finish at [[Rottnest Island]].

==References==
{{Reflist |30em}}

{{Subject bar |auto=y |portal1=Western Australia |portal2=Geography }}

[[Category:Gage Roads| ]]
[[Category:Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:1987 America's Cup]]
[[Category:Fremantle Harbour]]
[[Category:Roadsteads]]