Pastoral leases over the island were granted to Charles Broadhurst in 1873, and to WD Moore & Coy in 1883. For most of the 20th century, from 1905, the Hoult family of Denham ran sheep and goats on the island. In 1999 the Hoults sold the lease to the AWC, which removed more than 3400 sheep.[2]
The landscape consists mostly of red and white sandy plains and dunes, with claypans in low-lying areas. The highest point is 26m above sea level. It has some limestone and red sand cliff shores, like Peron Peninsula.
The climate is semi-arid to arid, with hot dry summers and mild winters. Rainfall is erratic, falling mainly in winter, with an annual average of 222 mm. Cyclones may sometimes bring rainfall in summer and autumn.[4]
The island is located within the Shark Bay Marine Park and is adjacent to both the Wooramel Seagrass Bank and the Faure Sill sandbank that is a major component in the creating of the conditions within the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve.
^A biological survey of Faure Island, Shark Bay World Heritage property, Western Australia / edited by Jacqueline D. Richards and Barry Wilson. Other authors: Australian Wildlife Consultancy. Western Australian Museum, South Australian Museum, Western Australia. Dept. of Environment and Conservation. Perth, W.A. : Western Australian Museum, 2008. Records of the Western Australian Museum. Supplement, 0313-122X ; no. 75. ISBN978-1-920843-36-6
^
Richards, Jacqui (2007). "Return to Faure Island". Landscope. WA Dept of Environment & Conservation. pp. 10–17.
^Thomas, N & Whisson, L (2001). In Farewell felines of Faure : follow-up survey of feral cats on Faure Island. Dept. of Conservation & Land Management, [Woodvale, W.A.]
^Tom Curtis (2008) Boodie abode: Australia's Faure is an island of good news for boodies, bandicoots, and banded hare wallabies.(Australian Wildlife Conservancy) Boodie abode: Australia's Faure is an island of good news for boodies, bandicoots, and banded hare wallabies.
In Wildlife Conservation, v.111, no.2, 2008 March–April, p.34-41 (ISSN1048-4949)
Only places with the name still in use in either the original or anglicised version are listed above. Many names have been anglicised; for these the original French name appears in brackets.
