Gabo Island is a island located off the coast of eastern Victoria, Australia, between Mallacoota and Cape Howe on the border with New South Wales. It is separated from the mainland by a wide channel; access is available by arranged flights and boats. Gabo Island is a shipping reference commonly referred to in Victorian weather warnings issued by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The island is an unincorporated area under the direct administration of the government of Victoria. Gabo Island Lighthouse Gabo Island is well known for its historic lighthouse. This lighthouse, Australia's second tallest, was completed in 1862 and made from pink granite quarried from the island itself. The focal plane of the light is situated at above sea level, the characteristic is a group of three flashes that occurs every twenty seconds. A keeper's house is occupied by a caretaker; another building may be rented for overnight stays. Climate Gabo Island has a moderate oceanic climate (Cfb) with mild summers and cool winters and rainfall spread throughout the year. The island features 60.8 clear days annually, higher than Melbourne's 48.6 days. Birds The island is home to the world's second largest colony of little penguins. Gabo and nearby Tullaberga Island have been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because of the numbers of breeding penguins (up to 21,000 pairs) and white-faced storm petrels (up to 20,000 pairs). Concern of predation of native birds and animals led to a successful feral cat eradication program on the island between 1987 and 1991. Literary references “The wind that blows by Gabo,” is the title of a poem by E.J. Brady. References External links The Great Penguin Count on Gabo Island Unincorporated areas of Victoria (Australia) 1862 establishments in Australia Gippsland (region) Important Bird Areas of Victoria (Australia) Islands of Victoria (Australia) Seabird colonies Penguin colonies