DOCSLIB.ORG

The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders R.N

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders R.N The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders R.N. by Ernest Scott PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE AUTHOR OF "TERRE NAPOLEON" AND "LIFE OF LAPEROUSE" WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES. SYDNEY ANGUS & ROBERTSON LTD. 89 CASTLEREAGH STREET 1914. PORTRAIT OF MATTHEW FLINDERS, AGED 27 PREFACE. The subject of this book died one hundred years ago. Within his forty years of life, he discovered a very large area of what is now an important region of the earth; he participated in stirring events which are memorable in modern history; he applied a vigorous and original mind to the advancement of knowledge, with useful results; and he was the victim of circumstances which, however stated, were peculiarly unfortunate, and must evoke the sympathy of everyone who takes the trouble to understand them. His career was crowded with adventures: war, perilous voyages, explorations of unknown coasts, encounters with savages, shipwreck and imprisonment are the elements which go to make up his story. He was, withal, a downright Englishman of exceptionally high character, proud of his service and unsparing of himself in the pursuit of his duty. Yet up to this time his biography has not been written. There are, it is true, outlines of his career in various works of reference, notably that contributed by Sir J.K. Laughton to the Dictionary of National Biography. But there is no book to which a reader can turn for a fairly full account of his achievements, and an estimate of his personality. Of all discoverers of leading rank Matthew Flinders is the only one about whom there is no ample and convenient record. This book endeavours to fill the gap. The material upon which it is founded is set forth in the footnotes and the bibliography. Here the author takes pleasure in acknowledging the assistance he has received from several quarters. A previous book brought him the acquaintance of the grand-nephew of that Comte de Fleurieu who largely inspired three famous French voyages to Australia--those of Laperouse, Dentrecasteaux and Baudin--all of which have an important bearing upon the subject. The Comte A. de Fleurieu had long been engaged in collecting material relative to the work and influence of his distinguished grand-uncle, and in the most generous manner he handed over to the author his very large collection of manuscripts and note-books to be read, noted, and used at discretion. Even when a historian does not actually quote or directly use matter bearing upon his subject, it is of immense advantage to have access to documents which throw light upon it, and which enable an in-and-out knowledge of a period and persons to be obtained. This book owes much of whatever value it may possess to monsieur de Fleurieu's assistance in this respect, and the author thanks him most warmly. The Flinders papers, of which free use has been made, were presented to the Melbourne Public Library by Professor W.M. Flinders Petrie. They are described in the bibliography. The transcripts of family and personal documents were especially valuable. Although they were not supplied for this book, Professor Flinders Petrie gave them in order that they might be of use to some biographer of his grandfather, and the author begs to thank him, and also Mr. E La Touche Armstrong, the chief librarian, in whose custody they are, and who has given frequent access to them. The rich stores of manuscripts in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, have been thoroughly examined, with the assistance of Mr. W.H. Ifould, principal librarian, Mr. Hugh Wright, and the staff of that institution. Help from this quarter was accorded with such grace that one came to think giving trouble was almost like conferring a favour. All copies of documents from Paris and Caen cited in this book have been made by Madame Robert Helouis. The author was able to indicate the whereabouts of the principal papers, but Madame Helouis, developing an interest in the subject as she pursued her task, was enabled, owing to her extensive knowledge of the resources of the French archives, to find and transcribe many new and valuable papers. The author also wishes to thank Captain Francis Bayldon, of Sydney, who has kindly given help on several technical points; Miss Alma Hansen, University of Melbourne, who was generous enough to make a study of the Dutch Generale Beschrijvinge van Indien--no light task--to verify a point of some importance for the purpose of the chapter on "The Naming of Australia"; and Mr. E.A. Petherick, whose manuscript bibliography, containing an immense quantity of material, the fruit of a long life's labour, has always been cheerfully made available. Professor Flinders Petrie has been kind enough to read and make some useful suggestions upon the personal and family passages of the book, which has consequently benefited greatly. The whole work has been read through by Mr. A.W. Jose, author of The History of Australasia, whose criticism on a multitude of points, some minute, but all important, has been of the utmost value. The help given by Mr. Jose has been more than friendly; it has been informed by a keen enthusiasm for the subject, and great knowledge of the original authorities. The author's obligations to him are gratefully acknowledged. It is hoped that these pages will enable the reader to know Matthew Flinders the man, as well as the navigator; for the study of the manuscript and printed material about him has convinced the author that he was not only remarkable for what he did and endured, but for his own sake as an Englishman of the very best type. Melbourne, June 1914. CONTENTS. CHAPTER 1. BIRTH AND ORIGINS. Place of Flinders among Australian navigators. Birth. Flemish origins. Pedigree. Connection with the Tennysons. Possible relationship with Bass. Flinders' father. Donington. CHAPTER 2. AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA. Education. Robinson Crusoe. Aspirations for a naval career. His father's wish. John Flinders' advice. Study of navigation. Introduction to Pasley. Lieutenant's servant. Midshipman on the Bellerophon. Bligh and the Bounty mutiny. CHAPTER 3. A VOYAGE UNDER BLIGH. The second breadfruit expedition. Flinders in the Providence. Notes from Santa Cruz. At the Cape. Tahiti. In Torres Strait. Encounter with Papuans. Return to England. CHAPTER 4. THE BATTLE OFF BREST. The naval war with France. The battle of June 1st, 1794. Flinders as gunner. Pasley wounded. Flinders' journal of the engagement. Effect of Pasley's wound on the career of Flinders. CHAPTER 5. AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHY BEFORE FLINDERS. The predecessors of Flinders. How Australia grew on the map. Mediaeval controversies on antipodes. Period of vague speculation. Sixteenth century maps. The Dutch voyagers. The Batavia on the Abrolhos Reef. The Duyfhen in the Gulf. Torres. The three periods of Australian maritime discovery. Geographers and their views of Australia. The theory of the dividing strait. Cook and Furneaux. The untraced southern coast. CHAPTER 6. THE RELIANCE AND THE TOM THUMB. Governor Hunter. Captain Waterhouse. Flinders' passion for exploring new countries. Joins the Reliance. Hunter on the strategic importance of the Cape. Sailing of Reliance and Supply for New South Wales. Flinders' observations. Arrival at Port Jackson. George Bass. The Tom Thumb. Exploration of George's River. A perilous cruise. Meeting with aboriginals. The midshipman as valet. Port Hacking. Patching up the Reliance. Voyage to South Africa. CHAPTER 7. THE DISCOVERY OF BASS STRAIT. Bass in the Blue Mountains. Supposed strait isolating Van Diemen's Land. Bass's whaleboat voyage. Wilson's Promontory. Escaped convicts. Discovery of Westernport. Return to Port Jackson. CHAPTER 8. THE VOYAGE OF THE FRANCIS. The wreck of the Sydney Cove. Discovery of Kent's Islands. Biological notes. Seals. Sooty petrels. The wombat. Point Hicks. CHAPTER 9. CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF TASMANIA. Flinders in command of the Norfolk. Bass's association with him. Twofold Bay. Discovery of Port Dalrymple. Bass Strait demonstrated. Black swans. Albatross Island. Tasmanian aboriginals. CHAPTER 10. THE FATE OF GEORGE BASS. Bass's marriage. Part owner of the Venus. Voyages after pork. A fishing concession. South American enterprise. Unsaleable goods. A "diplomatic-looking certificate." Bass's last voyage. Probable fate in Peru. His missing letters. CHAPTER 11. ON THE QUEENSLAND COAST. Flinders and the Isaac Nicholls case. Exploration on the Queensland coast. Moreton Bay. CHAPTER 12. THE INVESTIGATOR. Return to England in the Reliance. Sir Joseph Banks. Marriage of Flinders. Ann Chappell and Chappell Island. The Franklins. Publication of Observations on the Coasts of Van Diemen's Land, on Bass Strait and its Islands. Anxiety about French expedition. The Investigator commissioned. Equipment of ship. The staff and crew. East India Company's interest. Instructions for the voyage. The case of Mrs. Flinders. Sailing orders delayed. The incident at the Roar. Life on board. Crossing the Line. Australia reached. CHAPTER 13. THE FRENCH EXPEDITION. Origin of Baudin's expedition. His instructions. Baudin's dilatoriness. In Tasmanian waters. Waterhouse Island. CHAPTER 14. SOUTH COAST DISCOVERY. The south coast of Australia. Method of research. Aboriginals at King George's Sound. Discovery of Spencer's Gulf. Loss of Thistle and a boat's crew. Memory Cove. Port Lincoln. Kangaroo Island. St. Vincent's Gulf. Pelicans. Speculations on the fate of Laperouse. CHAPTER 15. FLINDERS AND BAUDIN IN ENCOUNTER BAY The sighting of Le Geographe. Flinders visits Baudin. Their conversations. Flinders invites Baudin to visit Port Jackson. CHAPTER 16. FLINDERS IN PORT PHILLIP Grant's discoveries. Murray discovers Port Phillip. King Island. Flinders enters Port Phillip. Ascends Arthur's Seat. The Investigator aground. Cruise in a boat. Ascends Station Peak. Flinders' impression of the port. Arrival in Port Jackson. Healthiness of his crew.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Captain Louis De Freycinet
    *Catalogue title pages:Layout 1 13/08/10 2:51 PM Page 1 CAPTAIN LOUIS DE FREYCINET AND HIS VOYAGES TO THE TERRES AUSTRALES *Catalogue title pages:Layout 1 13/08/10 2:51 PM Page 3 HORDERN HOUSE rare books • manuscripts • paintings • prints 77 VICTORIA STREET POTTS POINT NSW 2011 AUSTRALIA TEL (61-2) 9356 4411 FAX (61-2) 9357 3635 [email protected] www.hordern.com CONTENTS Introduction I. The voyage of the Géographe and the Naturaliste under Nicolas Baudin (1800-1804) Brief history of the voyage a. Baudin and Flinders: the official narratives 1-3 b. The voyage, its people and its narrative 4-29 c. Freycinet’s Australian cartography 30-37 d. Images, chiefly by Nicolas Petit 38-50 II. The voyage of the Uranie under Louis de Freycinet (1817-1820) Brief history of the voyage a. Freycinet and King: the official narratives 51-54 b. Preparations and the voyage 55-70 c. Freycinet constructs the narrative 71-78 d. Images of the voyage and the artist Arago’s narrative 79-92 Appendix 1: The main characters Appendix 2: The ships Appendix 3: Publishing details of the Baudin account Appendix 4: Publishing details of the Freycinet account References Index Illustrated above: detail of Freycinet’s sketch for the Baudin atlas (catalogue no. 31) Illustrated overleaf: map of Australia from the Baudin voyage (catalogue no. 1) INTRODUCTION e offer for sale here an important on the contents page). To illuminate with knowledge collection of printed and original was the avowed aim of each of the two expeditions: Wmanuscript and pictorial material knowledge in the widest sense, encompassing relating to two great French expeditions to Australia, geographical, scientific, technical, anthropological, the 1800 voyage under Captain Nicolas Baudin and zoological, social, historical, and philosophical the 1817 voyage of Captain Louis-Claude de Saulces discoveries.
    [Show full text]
  • Sullivans Cove and Precinct Other Names: Place ID: 105886 File No: 6/01/004/0311 Nomination Date: 09/07/2007 Principal Group: Urban Area
    Australian Heritage Database Class : Historic Item: 1 Identification List: National Heritage List Name of Place: Sullivans Cove and Precinct Other Names: Place ID: 105886 File No: 6/01/004/0311 Nomination Date: 09/07/2007 Principal Group: Urban Area Assessment Recommendation: Place does not meet any NHL criteria Other Assessments: National Trust of Australia (Tas) Tasmanian Heritage Council : Entered in State Heritage List Location Nearest Town: Hobart Distance from town (km): Direction from town: Area (ha): Address: Davey St, Hobart, TAS, 7000 LGA: Hobart City, TAS Location/Boundaries: The area set for assessment was the area entered in the Tasmanian Heritage Register in Davey Street to Franklin Wharf, Hobart. The area assessed comprised an area enclosed by a line commencing at the intersection of the south eastern road reserve boundary of Davey Street with the south western road reserve boundary of Evans Street (approximate MGA point Zone 55 527346mE 5252404mN), then south easterly via the south western road reserve boundary of Evans Street to its intersection with the south eastern boundary of Land Parcel 1/138719 (approximate MGA point 527551mE 5252292mN), then southerly and south westerly via the south eastern boundary of Land Parcel 1/138719 to the most southerly point of the land parcel (approximate MGA point 527519mE 5252232mN), then south easterly directly to the intersection of the southern road reserve boundary of Hunter Street with MGA easting 527546mE (approximate MGA point 527546mE 5252222mN), then southerly directly to
    [Show full text]
  • Captain Matthew Flinders (1774~1814)
    Captain Matthew Flinders (1774~1814) Captain Matthew Flinders was born 16 March, 1774. He was one of the most successful cartographers and navigators of his time. In a career that only spanned twenty years he circumnavigated Australia, proved Tasmania was an island and was the person responsible for the name “Australia” being adopted. Born in Lincolnshire, England, Matthew Flinders was introduced to the sea through reading the book Robinson Crusoe. Coming from a family of doctors, Flinders was expected to follow the same profession, but at the age of 15 he joined the Royal Navy. By 1790, Flinders had been made a midshipman and worked transporting breadfruit from Tahiti to Jamaica where he developed his navigation skills under the leadership of Captain Bligh. Flinders first trip to Port Jackson, New South Wales was in 1795 as a midshipman. On this voyage he quickly proved himself as a fine navigator and cartographer. He also became friends with the ship’s surgeon George Bass. Not long after arriving in Port Jackson, Bass and Flinders made two small expeditions in small open boats, both named Tom Thumb. Their first journey was to Botany Bay and Georges River; the second south from Port Jackson to Lake Illawarra . These journeys allowed Flinders to upgrade the maps of the New South Wales coast. In 1798 Flinders was given command of the ship, Norfolk and given orders to investigate beyond the Furneaux’s Islands and explore the extent of the strait between the mainland and Van Diemen's Land ( now known as Tasmania). Flinders and Bass journeyed through the strait and circumnavigated Van Diemen's Land, proving that it was a separate island.
    [Show full text]
  • The Meeting of Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin
    A Cordial Encounter? 53 A Cordial Encounter? The Meeting of Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin (8-9 April, 1802) Jean Fornasiero and John West-Sooby1 The famous encounter between Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders in the waters off Australia’s previously uncharted south coast has now entered the nation’s folklore. At a time when their respective countries were locked in conflict at home and competing for strategic advantage on the world stage, the two captains were able to set aside national rivalries and personal disappointments in order to greet one another with courtesy and mutual respect. Their meeting is thus portrayed as symbolic of the triumph of international co-operation over the troubled geopolitics of the day. What united the two expeditions—the quest for knowledge in the spirit of the Enlightenment—proved to be stronger than what divided them. This enduring—and endearing—image of the encounter between Baudin and Flinders is certainly well supported by the facts as we know them. The two captains did indeed conduct themselves on that occasion in an exemplary manner, readily exchanging information about their respective discoveries and advising one another about the navigational hazards they should avoid or about safe anchorages where water and other supplies could be obtained. Furthermore, the civility of their meeting points to a strong degree of mutual respect, and perhaps also to a recognition of their shared experience as navigators whom fate had thrown together on the lonely and treacherous shores of the “unknown coast” of Australia. And yet, as appealing as it may be, this increasingly idealized image of the encounter runs the risk of masking some of its subtleties and complexities.
    [Show full text]
  • Matthew Flinders' Mauritius Writings. Gillian Dooley My Work in Special
    Dooley: Uses of Adversity The Uses of Adversity: Matthew Flinders’ Mauritius Writings. Gillian Dooley My work in Special Collections at the Flinders University Library has brought me into close contact with many aspects of our namesake Matthew Flinders, especially recently. Over the years my predecessors have assiduously collected every scrap of information or memorabilia on Flinders that came their way, and my current project is cataloguing this material, providing subject access via our library catalogue.1 We have a few treasures, but the real value of the collection lies in its collocation of many bits and pieces from two centuries of academic and journalistic interest in Flinders. And inevitably this work has led me to follow other trails, reading some of the many excellent biographies, and his own work as well, ranging from his journals, now available in facsimile and transcript on the State Library of NSW web site,2 to his monumental Voyage to Terra Australis, in Tim Flannery’s timely abridged version3 — light enough to carry on the bus — and his memoir of his devoted ship’s cat Trim. And I have discovered that Matthew Flinders was a writer of considerable ability — which is to say, I have ‘discovered’ the fact in the same way 1 URL <voyager.flinders.edu.au> 2 The Private Journal is also about to be published by Crawford House in an edition by Anthony J. Brown. 1 Dooley: Uses of Adversity that Flinders ‘discovered’ Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island. Others have been there before me: T.M. Perry wrote a short appreciation in the issue of Overland in which ‘Trim’ first appeared,4 K.
    [Show full text]
  • George Bass, an Early Bird Collector in the Pacific (1801–1802), and Some Notes on Early Bird Collecting on the Pacific Ocean Islands
    Bonn zoological Bulletin 66 (2): 167–176 December 2017 George Bass, an early bird collector in the Pacific (1801–1802), and some notes on early bird collecting on the Pacific Ocean islands Justin J. F. J. Jansen c/o Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. The arrival of two living Samoan Fruit-doves Ptilinopus fasciatus on 7 June 1803 in the harbour of Le Hâvre, France with the return of one of the Baudin expeditionary vessels, the Naturaliste, marked the arrival of the first live birds from the tropical Pacific in Europe. More specimens from the tropical Pacific followed on 24 March 1804 when the second Baudin vessel, the Géographe, arrived at Lorient, France. The person responsible for collecting these birds was – most likely – George Bass (1771–1803), who donated these specimens to the ex- pedition commanded by Nicolas Baudin at Port Jackson, Australia in November 1802. This paper documents Bass’s bird collecting activities, his 1801–02 voyage, the role of the Baudin expedition and the Muséum National d’His- toire naturelle in Paris (e.g., donation, exchanges), and it documents the history of bird collecting in the tropical Pacific – on locations visited by Bass – pre-1823. Key words. George Bass; Nicolas Baudin; Pacific; Birds; Australia; Cook Expeditions. INTRODUCTION 1906, Horner 1987: 329, Péron 1994: 224, Duyker 2006: 212, 289, Attenbrow 2010: 86, Fornaseiro et al. 2010: George Bass (1771–1803) is a well-known explorer of 355). Bass also donated notes to the Baudin expedition on Australia and to a lesser extent of the Pacific (Bowden the vocabulary and grammar of the “savages” at Port Jack- 1952, Estensen 2005, 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales [Volume 1]
    An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales [Volume 1] With Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners &c. of the Native Inhabitants of that Country. To Which are Added, Some Particulars of New Zealand: Complied by Permission, From the Mss. of Lieutenant-Governor King Collins, David (1756-1810) A digital text sponsored by University of Sydney Library Sydney 2003 colacc1 http://purl.library.usyd.edu.au/setis/id/colacc1 © University of Sydney Library. The texts and images are not to be used for commercial purposes without permission Prepared from the print edition published by T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies 1798 All quotation marks are retained as data. First Published: 1798 F263 Australian Etext Collections at Early Settlement prose nonfiction pre-1810 An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales [Volume 1] With Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners &c. of the Native Inhabitants of that Country. To Which are Added, Some Particulars of New Zealand: Complied by Permission, From the Mss. of Lieutenant-Governor King Contents. Introduction. SECT. PAGE I. TRANSPORTS hired to carry Convicts to Botany Bay. — The Sirius and the Supply i commissioned. — Preparations for sailing. — Tonnage of the Transports. — Numbers embarked. — Fleet sails. — Regulations on board the Transports. — Persons left behind. — Two Convicts punished on board the Sirius. — The Hyæna leaves the Fleet. — Arrival of the Fleet at Teneriffe. — Proceedings at that Island. — Some Particulars respecting the Town of Santa Cruz. — An Excursion made to Laguna. — A Convict escapes from one of the Transports, but is retaken. — Proceedings. — The Fleet leaves Teneriffe, and puts to Sea.
    [Show full text]
  • Matthew Flinders: Pathway to Fame
    INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC REVIEW VoL. 2 No. 1 {NEW SERIES) JUNE 2001 Matthew Flinders: Pathway to Fame joe Doyle Since his death many books and articles have been written about Matthew Flinders . During his life, apart from his own books, he wrote much himself, and there is a large body of contemporary correspondence concerning him in various archives in England and Australia. The bicentenary of the start of his voyage in Investigator is so important that it deserves once more, to be drawn to the atten­ tion of those interested in hydrography. This paper traces Matthew Flinders' early life and training as a hydrographer until July 1801 when he sailed from England in Investigator on his fateful mission to chart the little known southern continent, that land mass which had yet to be named Australia. Introduction An niversaries of two milestones of 'European ' Austral ia occur in 2001. The sig­ nificant event is the centenary of the formation of the Commonwealth of Australi a. It is also the bicentenary of the start of an important British voyage to complete the survey of that continent and from which the term Australia began to be accept­ ed as the name for the country. July 2001 is the 200th anniversary of the departure from Spithead of Investigator, a sloop' fitted out and stored for a voyage to remote parts. The vessel, under the command of Commander Matthew Flinders, Royal Navy, was bound for New South Wales, a colony established thirteen years earlier. The purpose of the voyage was to make a complete examination and survey of the coast of that island continent.
    [Show full text]
  • George Bass Naval Surgeon, Explorer, Merchant Adventurer
    MAY M E ETING : "GEORGE BASS-NAVAL SURGEON­ MERCHANT ADVENTURER'. Our Guest Speaker was Capt. C. W. T. H enderson, (Maritime Services Board) and HON. SEC. MANLY, WARRINGAH and PITT­ WATER HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Those who were privileged to hear this address were very thankful to Capt. H enderson for choosing as his subject, one, namely 'George Bass' who played such a n outstanding part In the first years of the Colony. The following is a very brief resume of this interesting address: Born on a Lincolnshire farm, the son and grandson of a farmer, George Bass from his earliest years always thirsted for adventure by salt water. As a boy he read widely on Natural History and voyages of exploratiqp and his love of adventure was fostered by his Lincolns hire associatldfls, for many men famous in early Australian exploration and discovery-Fllnders- Banks- Franklin and others who actually sailed with Cook- hailed from this corner of England. In his early days, the plans were to make him a doctor and after a 5 years apprenticeship to a surgeon and apothecary, ·be took his Diploma with Honours at the Surgeons Hall London at the age of 18 years. Love of the sea and adventure prompted him to j oin the Royal Navy where he saw service against. the French. Putting into effect his professed intention, as indicated in his let­ ' ter to Sir Joseph Banks, of exploring more of our coastline than any other of his predecessors, he obtained an appointment in H.M.S. RELIANCE sailing for Port Jackson.
    [Show full text]
  • New Evidence on Arthur Phillip's First Landing Place 26 January 1788
    New evidence on Arthur Phillip’s first landing place 26 January 1788 Michael Flynn and Gary Sturgess The location of Governor Arthur Phillip’s first landing and the flag-raising ceremony in Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788 has been an issue of dispute and uncertainty among historians since the 19th century. The cove was divided into an east and west side by the Tank Stream and it was clear that the ceremony was held very close to the landing place, as described by Judge-Advocate David Collins. None of the generally known eyewitness accounts mentioned on which side of the cove the landing took place. History is full of blind spots where chroniclers failed to record something that seemed obvious or commonplace at the time, or because there was so much else going on. Since 2011 we have been working on a close analysis of sources, which allow the spot to be pinpointed with much greater accuracy. Early maps and paintings of Sydney Cove and manuscript journals collected by various institutions over time are now readily accessible through online digitisation. New evidence has emerged, the most significant item being an obscure letter from a First Fleet sailor John Campbell identifying the site as lying on the west side of the cove, the only surviving primary evidence from a First Fleeter. This is supported by the 1847 obituary of First Fleet convict John Limeburner and an entry in the 1806 NSW Pocket Almanack, published when Philip Gidley King (an eyewitness) was Governor. All three sources accord with the persistent 19th century oral tradition of a landing at a spot near the bottom of Bethel Steps, The Rocks (behind the south end of the present Overseas Passenger Terminal),i and a flag raising ceremony held on or very close to George Street, between Cadman’s Cottage and the former Mariners’ Churchii at the corner of Hickson Road.iii In 1789 John Campbell, a seaman on the Lady Penrhyn transport, sent a letter specifically indicating the west side location.
    [Show full text]
  • OLD PATTERN ADMIRALTY LONG SHANKED ANCHOR North Head
    OLD PATTERN ADMIRALTY LONG SHANKED ANCHOR North Head, Sydney CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN April, 2000 Heritage Office NSW AUSTRALIA Project leader: David Nutley Research and Report Preparation: Tim Smith Report Released: April, 2000. © NSW Heritage Office, Sydney NSW, Australia The material contained within may be quoted with appropriate attribution. Disclaimer Any representation, statement, opinion or advice, expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith but on the basis that the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, statement or advice referred to above. Cover: Drawing of the Old Plan Admiralty anchor discovered off North Head, Port Jackson (Sydney). Drawing by Tim Smith. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Heritage Office wishes to thank the following individuals for their assistance with the Sydney anchor survey: Mr John Riley Site discoverer Ms Sue Bassett Conservator, Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney. Mr Colin Browne Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL), Department of Mr Phil Clark Public Works & Services Mr John Carpenter Materials Conservator, Western Australian Maritime Museum Mr Bill Jeffery State Heritage Branch. South Australia. Mr Mike Nash Cultural Heritage Branch, Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. Tasmania. Ms Frances Prentice Librarian, Australian National Maritime Museum Dr Richard Smith Freelance underwater video Ms Myra Stanbury Western Australian Maritime Museum. Fremantle. OLD PATTERN ADMIRALTY LONG SHANKED ANCHOR CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction Page 1 2.0 Objectives 3 2.1 General 3 2.2 Specific 3 2.3 Methodology 3 2.4 Position 4 3.0 Historical Analysis 5 3.1 “Here an anchor ..
    [Show full text]
  • Bass Coast Rail Trail Case Study
    01 IndustrIal HerItage Case studies in 2013, with Glen Forbes in 2014 and a timber rail viaduct, railway stations, Bass Coast Kernot in 2016. Once completed the trail remnants of mines and mining activity will be 50 kilometres long. (including a largely intact mullock heap Rail Trail This ongoing, long-term project began at Mitchell’s Mine and four miner’s cottages at Wonthaggi). Bass Coast Shire, Gippsland, ViC in 1994 and continues today. The trail is managed and developed by the Bass The trail site is adjacent to the old State The Bass Coast Rail Trail is one Coast Shire Council. Coal Mine at Wonthaggi, Mitchell’s Mine Historic Reserve and the historic of a series of rail trails that reuse Site history and heritage cemetery at Kilcunda, coastal reserves defunct railway corridors as linear The Bass Coast Rail Trail is part of a and the Wonthaggi Wetlands. recreational parks. Located in former branch railway from Nyora to The rail corridor had important remnant Wonthaggi, which opened in 1910 to carry South Gippsland, the Bass Coast vegetation and provided biological corridors coal from the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine Rail Trail moves through between other areas of remnant bush. farmland, coastal bushland, to Melbourne, and to service the region’s farms and agricultural industries. Challenges historic coal mining reserves and along the Gippsland coastline. The coal mine closed in 1968 and, When the Committee of Management took following declining rail usage, the railway over in 1994 there was “nothing but clay, The trail has particularly strong itself was closed in 1978.
    [Show full text]