In a Facebook post published on Friday, the council wrote “There’s a potential sinkhole just below the low tide mark at Seventeen Seventy.” In the post, a picture clearly indicates where the sinkhole is believed to be developing.

A tourist staying across the road from the scenic beach contacted the council after noticing the sinkhole, believing it has increased in size over the past few days.

“We will continue to monitor the situation, posting any further developments,” the post said.

The fact the sinkhole is developing at the low tide mark means it’s at a level where swimmers would usually be able to access. This is why signs have been erected warning the public of the very real danger of swimming there.

A sinkhole is a natural occurrence, where the structural integrity of the ground is compromised causing the surface to thin out and cave-in when it can’t support anymore weight.

Seventeen Seventy is a town built on the site of Captain James Cook’s second landing in Australia. While there is less than 100 local residents in Seventeen Seventy, it is a popular location for travellers.