The name Primrose Sands is a bit of a mystery! There are lots of stories about how it came to be – one of the theories is that it comes from the primrose yellow flowers of the native Goodenia ovata that grow here.

Another theory is that the crabs on the beach make the shape of a Primrose flower when they burrow.

Another theory proposes the name comes from the yellow-gold colour of the beaches in the area.

Whatever the truth, the name seems to be fairly old – Primrose Point was originally named Point Renord by d’Entrecasteaux, but his preferred name ended up supplanted on maps by the name Primrose Point.

The earliest newspaper listing for use of the name Primrose comes from 1837, in the True Colonist Van Diemen’s Land Political Despatch, reporting on the grounding of the schooner June in Primrose Bay while approaching “The Carlton”, the Carlton River.

Do you know more? Let us know if you’ve dug up some historical information on the name.