The promontory has been a national park , to one degree or another , since 1898 . Wilsons Promontory National Park , also known locally as " the Prom " , contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria . The site was closed to the public during World War II , as it was used as a commando training ground . The only settlement within Wilsons Promontory is Tidal River which lies south of the park boundary and is the focus for tourism and recreation . This park is managed by Parks Victoria . In 2005 a burn started by staff got out of control and burnt 13 % of the park , causing the evacuation of campers . In 2009 , a lightning strike near Sealer 's Cove started a fire that burned over . Much of the area had not been burned since 1951 . The fire began on 8 February , the day after " Black Saturday " , where an intense heat wave , combined with arson , faulty electrical infrastructure and natural causes , led to hundreds of bushfires burning throughout the state of Victoria . Although the fire burned to within , the Tidal River camping area and park headquarters were unaffected . The park reopened to the public one month after the incident and the burned areas quickly regrew . Despite the damage , the natural beauty of the area remained largely intact
Black Saturday
Black Saturday bushfires
Wilsons Promontory