3.2. A Regional timeline The following timeline pertaining to the European exploration and settlement of the Gulf Region and the general area of the proposed Savannah Way includes information which has been drawn primarily from Dymock, Whitaker, and Wilson and Estbergs, with any other additions gleaned from a range of sources restricted to those detailed in Section 6, References. 19

Major events and any items of interest that might be considered in the preparation of interpretive materials have been included, though there will obviously be a number of items that may be omitted. The fault for any major omissions is that of the consultant.

1600 Macassar (now Ujung Pandang) becomes an important trading centre 1622 Exploration of the Arnhem Land coast begins 1644 Abel Tasman with a small flotilla of three vessels, Zeemeettw, Limmen and Bracq, carrying a complement of over 111 men charts the general outline of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coastline. inlets are noted in the general vicinity of the future border of Qld — NT and at . Tasman names Groote Eyelandt, Cape Maria, Limmen Bight and Arnhem Land 1650+ Macassan trepangers commence visits to the north coast and Gulf of Carpentaria to catch and process trepang in 's first export industry. Trading with the Aborigines is a two way process and many Macassan influences remain 1659 Hendrick Donker of Amsterdam publishes the first map showing the discovered southern coastline of the Gulf of Carpentaria 1663 Melchissedec Thevenot (1620-1692), French geographer of Paris publishes his famous map "Hollandia Nova Terre Australe". Map details the Van Alphen River and Tasman's River (i.e. Probably Tully Inlet at the mouth of and Calvert River) 1802-03 Matthew Flinders in the Investigator surveys and names the Wellesley and Sir Edward Pellew Islands Group. He also names Vanderlin Island, Cape Arnhem, West, Centre and North Islands, South West Island, Bickerton and Woodah Islands and Blue Mud Bay. He notes evidence of Macassan and Aboriginal occupation of the islands and meets Pobasso, a Macassan fleet captain 1845 Ludwig Leichhardt and party traverse the lower Gulf of Carpentaria hinterland from east to west. The following watercourses are named and crossed: • Sept 4, Wentworth Ck. After W.C. Wentworth Esq. MC • Sept 6, Van Alphen River. (named 1644) • Sept 8, Calvert River. After James S. Calvert • Sept 9, Abel Tasman River. (named 1644) Now known as the Calvert River • Sept 14, Seven Emus River. After seven Emus killed there • Sept 16, Robinson River. After J.P. Robinson Esq. of Sydney • Sept 21, Macarthur River. After Messrs. James and William Macarthur (now misnamed McArthur) • Leichhardt's Bar. After Leichhardt but later changed to Roper bar. Leichhardt's party travels north and arrives at Victoria Settlement Port Essington in 1845. In his journey through to the Roper he names the , The Four Archers, , and the Roper 1856 A.C. Gregory's North Australian Expedition crosses from west to east from the Victoria River Depot to the east coast of NSW (now Qld) crossing en route the Macarthur River and the China Wall, following down the Nicholson River east to the Gregory and Albert . Gregory passes approximately 11 Kilometres south of present Borroloola town common 1864-72 First period of European settlement in the Lower Nicholson, Albert and Gregory Rivers area 1866-68 Captain F. Cadell explores the Roper and areas. D'arcy Wentworth Uhr Sub- Inspector of Native Mounted Police is stationed at Burketown — Uhr was later associated with a number of droving trips over Leichhardt's route - the Queensland Road

19. Dymock, John. Cornerstones of the NT's Pastoral History. For National Trust (NT). 1991. And, Whitaker, Judy A. Borroloola. Isolated and Interesting. 1885-1985. Government Printer. 1984, and Wilson, Helen and Estbergs, Elizabeth. The Chronicle (Ta edition). NTU Planning Authority. 1984.

A Desktop Survey of the Proposed Savannah Way 8