1606 and 1770: A Tale of Two Discoveries A Documentary Film By John Mulders
© ATOM A STUDY GUIDE by Bradley Wood
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN-13-978-1-74295-032-7 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au CURRICULUM APPLICABILITY
1606 and 1770 is relevant to the senior state history curriculums in that it asks historical questions that use analysis of various sources to understand past interpretations and reassess them. The investigation of this historical debate provides a framework for students to develop an understanding of terms and concepts as well as a platform to use their own individual research to examine and gather evidence, challenge established perspectives and draw conclusions. Clockwise from top left: Replica of Duyfken on exhibition in Cooktown; Wik Elder Silas Wolomby; Willem Janszoon; Willem Janszoon; The language used in the documentary, John Mulders at Pennefather river; Inset: 2006 commemorative coin especially in the fictionalised courtroom scenes, is sophisticated and best suited A lone Dutch explorer lands explorers that encountered Australia, for senior students. on Australia’s northern coast and which included Dirk Hartog, William in 1606, charting over 300 Dampier and Abel Tasman. Even more kilometres, yet Australians remarkably, the film focuses on the Bicentenary celebrations: generations fact that the most deserving and least of Australians have grown up with this still revere Cook as their rewarded explorer in terms of public idea firmly embedded in their ideas discoverer. recognition is the Dutchman Willem of history and national identity. The Janszoon, who was the first recorded documentary points to celebrations SYNOPSIS/OVERVIEW European to land on the Australian such as those in Cooktown, which coast in 1606 and also the first to inter- lionise James Cook, as part of the The documentary 1606 and 1770: A act with Indigenous Australians. reason for the general amnesia about Tale of Two Discoveries (John Mulders, Willem Janszoon, but it also looks at 2010, 53 minutes) explodes a number Most Australians when asked to give other factors. Like most national sto- of the myths and misconceptions that the date of European discovery of ries the development of our founding SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM have grown up around the history of Australia and the name of the explorer story and how it came adrift from our the charting of the Australian coast. would nominate James Cook in 1770. actual past is a complicated one. It reminds us that James Cook was a The mythology of Cook’s discov- relatively late addition to the long list of ery was reinforced in 1970 with the The documentary puts forward vari-
2 Timeline
1599 Dutch merchant ships reach the Spice Islands.
1602 The Dutch form the United East India Company (Vereenigde Oostendische Companie) to exploit trade in the Spice Islands.
1605– Dutchman Willem Janszoon in Duyfken charts 300km of the coast of Cape York 1606 Peninsula. He is the first documented European to sight and land in Australia which he believes is part of New Guinea.
1606 The Spaniard Luis Vaez de Torres sails through the passage between New Guinea and Australia which is now known as Torres Strait. above: Picture of Cook, juxtaposed with The Discovery of Australia, by G. Arnold Answer question 3.5: Wood 1616 Dirk Hartog sails the Eendracht along the west coast of Australia and lands at ous reasons for our long held bias in Dirk Hartog Island. The west coast is called Eendrachtland by the Dutch. excluding the Dutch from our general history. They include the decline of 1618 Van Hillegom of the Zeewolf lands at North West Cape on the Western Dutch power, the trade rivalry and Australian coast. jealousy between the English and the 1618 Willem Janszoon in Mauritius sees Australia for the second time at North West Dutch, that little is actually known of Cape outside Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia. Janszoon and no portrait exists, and the fact that the eventual colonisation 1619 Frederik de Houtman sights Rottnest Island (near present city of Perth) and Houtman Abrolhos (rocks). and exploitation of Australia was by the English and not the Dutch. The 1622 John Brookes in Trial is the first known Englishman to sight Australia at North main argument is that the English West Cape in Western Australia. His ship is wrecked on Monte Bello islands did not want to jeopardise their claim 100km west of the city of Dampier. on the entire continent by giving any 1623 Jan Cartenszoon (also Cartensz) is commander of an expedition that retraces prominence to a prior Dutch claim. Janszoon’s voyage to Cape York. They explore 600–700 km along the coast and march inland but still think it is connected to New Guinea. The focus of people determines what 1626– Francois Thijssen in the Gulden Zeepaert explores 1500km of coastline across they include and what they ignore in 1627 the Great Australian Bight as far as South Australia. writing down their history. What they ignore or leave out can be just as 1629 Survivors of the Batavia, shipwrecked on the Houtman Abrolhos, sail 800 km revealing about their sense of identity along the Western Australian coast heading for Java. as what they leave in. To Australians 1642 Abel Janszoon Tasman discovers Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) and explores the most attractive story has been a & large sections of the northern Australian coastline. Ship’s carpenter swims simple story of discovery by a great 1644 ashore and plants the Dutch flag. Tasman rediscovers Torres Strait which English navigator and subsequent separates New Guinea and Australia. He names Australia ‘New Holland’. claiming, taming and settlement of 1656 The Vergulde Draek is wrecked north of Perth at Ledge Point in Western the nation as an English colony. The Australia. 68 people remain on shore while 7 others leave to notify their mythic components of Cook’s ‘discov- location to the Dutch. The 68 survivors are never found again. ery’ of Australia that most Australians 1688 The English pirate, William Dampier in the Cygnet, lands in Western Australia. seem to have absorbed are 1. Land- ing in Australia was part of Cook’s 1696 Willem de Vlamingh rediscovers Rottnest Island and rows 70km up the Swan assigned mission 2. Australia was River in Western Australia. the Great South Land he was search- 1699 William Dampier returns in the Roebuck and sails up the west coast of ing for. 3. In his own time Cook was Australia for 1600 kms. famous for the ‘discovery’ of Australia. 4. Cook considered himself a success 1712 The Zuytdorp is wrecked near Shark Bay in Western Australia. There is evidence of survivors but they were never found and rescued. because he ‘discovered’ Australia. 1756 The ships Rijder under Captain Gondal and Buis under Captain van Asschens John Mulders uses the format of a are sent to explore the Gulf of Carpentaria. fictional court case to show all these
22/8/ James Cook claims the east coast of Australia for King George III at Possession SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM points to be false. This is done by 1770 Island after sailing up the coast for four months. He names it New South Wales. thoroughly establishing the remarkable fact that the first European to chart 1779 Sir Joseph Banks recommends Botany Bay as a site for a new penal colony. and set foot on Australian soil was 26/10/ Captain Arthur Phillip (later Governor) arrives with the First Fleet and Willem Janszoon (or Jansz), though 1788 establishes the first European colony in Australia at what is now Sydney.
3 above: Speculative map of southern lands. Speculum orbis terrae, Gerard de Jode
fortunes for and why? 3.2. What was ‘The Great South Land’? (Hint: Aristotle theo- rised about it and Ptolemy included it in his maps). In what ways did this idea inspire explorers? 3.3. What was the Dutch East India Company? Why and when did it establish trading posts in what is now Indonesia? 3.4. What was the Treaty of Tord- esillas? What did this mean Clockwise from top: Banda from the air; Mace on cloth; Banda; Nutmeg pod; Harvest for Australia even though Europeans did not know of its existence at this time? he is now little remembered or com- nesses and institutions in Aus- 3.5. What was the Brouwer memorated. Both Janszoon and Cook tralia named after Captain Cook Route? Find out the details appear as witnesses and their testi- or James Cook as you can. Now and insert them in the appro- mony is mixed in with relevant histori- try the same exercise for Willem priate place in the timeline. cal information as well as commentary Janszoon or Willem Jansz. Roughly draw the route on and explanations by historians. 2. Examine the map and the time- the map. line. What are the most surprising 4. Nowadays maps are everywhere. Finally the documentary calls for a things to you about the events Each car has a street directory or a more even-handed and inclusive ap- listed in the timeline? Based on GPS in it. In early modern Europe, proach to our history so that the full the information in the map and the when few people other than mer- story of when Europe first came to timeline, which parts of Australia chants travelled long distances, Australia is more commonly known. were mapped first by European maps were trade secrets. They explorers and which last? were very valuable and had to be Before Watching 3. Using your own research define kept from falling into your competi- SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM the Film and answer the following: tor’s hands. What problems and 3.1. What were ‘The Spice benefits did this policy of secrecy 1. Go to the Yellow Pages on-line (or Islands’? What spices were between nations about maps have the book) and find as many busi- Europeans willing to pay for the early European explorers?
4 Above: Dutchmen arrive at Pennefather River, Cape York, 1606
1400s 1500s 1600s 1700s 1800s 1900s
French
British
Spanish
Dutch
Portuguese
Other
5. What was happening elsewhere to survey people you know who 2.2 Differences in the people you in the world? Find out if 1606 was haven’t seen this documentary. surveyed, such as age or the before or after: Ask teachers, students and your state or territory they came 5.1. The birth of Isaac Newton parents about which nationality of from, may have influenced 5.2. The death of Shakespeare Europeans were the first from that their answers? 5.3. The attack on England by the continent to discover Australia and 4. Language can have a huge influ- Spanish Armada. when. ence on people’s perceptions of 5.4. The Great Fire of London. 2. Other possible surveys could events in history. What is called a 5.5. Tobacco is first introduced to include asking people; defeat in one set of history books Europe. 1.1 Who was the first European may be called a victory in another, 5.6. The death of Queen to discover Australia: Cook, depending on which side does the Elizabeth I. Janszoon, Hartog, Dampier, reporting. Research the language 5.7. The invention of the graphite Tasman or Torres? used to describe the Dutch contri- pencil. 1.2 Which coast of Australia was bution to the mapping of Australia 5.8. The installation of the first discovered first: West, East, with language about English con- flush toilet in Europe. South or North? tributions. What differences, if any, 3 Once you have your survey results have you found? Does the language Exploring Ideas and assess whether; used seek to influence your view of Issues in the Film 2.1 Your research backs up the events? Describe the characteristics SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM documentary’s claims about of good historical reporting and dis- Discovery Myths a general public misconcep- cuss whether the various descrip- tion about the European tions of the Dutch interactions with 1. Use a copy of the table above discovery of Australia. Australia comply with this.
5 Clockwise from top left: 1628 Dutch map of Australian discoveries; 1744 British chart of all the dutch charting; Tasman’s chart engraved on the floor of the State Library of NSW; First chart of Australia, 1606
Oral History are 40, 140 or 400 years old, do of four Wik elders and then answer your views of its reliability change the following: 1. The documentary shows an and why? 2.1. How useful and reliable is interview with Silas Wolomby, an 2. There is no direct written informa- Carstenszoon’s account elder of the Wik tribe from the area tion preserved about Janszoon’s in reconstructing possible in which Janszoon landed. In it first interactions with Indigenous events in Janszoon’s he describes this first encounter Australians. Any journals or diaries landing? with Europeans over 400 years at that time have long since been 2.2. In general were these early ago, as the events were passed lost. However there is an account experiences productive, con- down to him as part of traditional by Jan Carstenszoon of his encoun- frontational, friendly, disas- storytelling. ters when he revisited the same trous or something else? Research the nature of oral tradi- shores about eighteen years later 2.3. Compare the different ac- SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM tion in Indigenous culture and then and it may provide a guide. Read counts by Carstenszoon and advise how reliable it is as a guide the extract below from Carstens- the Wik elders and draw up to historical events. If the events zoon’s journal and also the stories a table listing elements of
6 Clockwise from top left: 1756 French map of the Dutch charting; Captain james cook portrait; Reenactment in Cooktown; Cook in court; Inset: Cook 1970 bicentenary fifty-cent coin
the stories that are similar the blacks kindly, and try to attract further delay; these natives resemble and those that are different. them with pieces of iron and strings of all the others in outward appearance; Overall does this support or beads; if practicable, also to capture they are coal-black and stark naked challenge the validity of oral one or more … with twisted nets round their heads; history? In the morning of the 8th, the wind their weapons are assagays, calla- 2.4. Based on information from all being E.S.E. [East South East] with ways [clubs?] and shields; we cannot, sources presented includ- good weather, I went ashore myself however, give any account of their ing the documentary, write with 10 Musketeers … one of them customs and ceremonies, nor did we a brief entry for Janszoon’s [Indigenous Australians] who had lost learn anything about the thickness of journal about the events and his weapon, was by the skipper seized the population, since we had few or no his impressions surround- round the waist, while at the same time opportunities for inquiring into these ing his first encounter with the quartermaster put a noose round matters; meanwhile I hope that with Indigenous Australians. his neck, by which he was dragged to God’s help Your Worships will in time the pinnace the other blacks seeing get information touching these points Extracts from Carstenzoon’s journal this, tried to rescue their captured from the black we have captured, to MAY 1623 brother by furiously assailing us with whose utterances I would beg leave to SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM In the morning of the 7th the wind was their assagays [spears]; in defending refer you … S.E. [South East] with fine weather; the ourselves we shot one of them, after In the morning of the 11th, the wind skipper went ashore with the Pinnace which the others took to flight, upon being E.S.E. with good weather, we [small boat];, with strict orders to treat which we returned on board without set sail again on a N.N.E. [North North
7 East] course along the land; in the from Evan McHugh, 1606 An Epic write a history of Australia. afternoon we sailed past a large river Adventure, University of New South What point in history would (which the men of the Duyfken went Wales Press Ltd, Sydney, 2006. you start it and which char- up with a boat in 1606, and where acters would you name as one of them was killed by the arrows Gladys Nunkatiapin 1978 being the most important? [spears] of the blacks … One day the first six white men came In the morning of the 12th … I went to this country. They crossed the river News article reporting on a Por- ashore myself with the skipper, and [the Kirke River at Cape Keerweer] and tuguese conference discussing found upwards of 200 savages stand- met our people. They took one young whether the Portuguese first dis- ing on the beach, making a violent woman back across the river. Her covered Australia noise, threatening to throw their husband go and say, ‘Let her go, give In any case, the question is not so arrows at us, and evidently full of her back’. No one spoke the language; much to know who arrived first, but suspicion; for, though we threw out to they could only use signs … The white first and foremost who is recorded them pieces of iron and other things, men wouldn’t let her go. The husband to have discovered it and gave to they refused to come to parley [negoti- pulled the white man into the river and Australia a place in the community ate], and used every possible means choked him. I think that’s when is all of nations. And those who did this, to wound one of our men and get him started. effectively, were the English, through into their power; we were accordingly the intermediary of James Cook. “To compelled to frighten them by firing Jack Spear Karntin 1986 arrive first in a place does not have any one or two shots at them, by which If the Dutchmen had behaved proper importance, because this is not refer- one of the blacks was hit in the breast [the Aboriginals] would not have killed able. The important thing is to arrive and carried to the pinnace by our men, them. But they detained their wives and to come back [… making a land upon which all the others retired to … They grabbed him [the Dutchman] discovered into the] collective patrimo- the hills or dunes; in their wretched by the neck, and smashed him down. ny of civilization,” observed Francisco huts on the beach we found noth- They clubbed his nose, then the back Domingues, professor and researcher ing but a square-cut assagay, two or of his neck! They hit another stone in Portuguese Maritime History. “The three small pebbles, and some human dead … The rest of the boats came Portuguese went to Australia; the bones, which they use in construct- from way out to sea, from well out to English discovered it,” concluded ing their weapons and scraping the sea off Thewena [Cape Keerweer]. Francisco Domingues (in the sense of same; we also found a quantity of From there they wrongly blamed [the the term that comprehends the notion black resin and a piece of metal, which Aboriginals] on the south side [of the of having given to it a place in the the wounded man had in his net, river mouth], they shot them with guns community of nations). and which he had most probably got as they lay sleeping … from the men of the Duyfken; since Susan Almeida Ribeiro, ‘The Portu- there was nothing further to be done Francis Yunkaporta 1999 guese went to Australia: The English here, we rowed back to the yacht, the The Dutch shot many Aboriginal discovered it’, trans. Robert King, Map wounded man dying before we had people along the river and in the bush Matters, Issue 11, July 2010,
8 James Cook, Captain Cook’s Voyages Websites and Further -archaeology/maritime-shipwrecks of Discovery, ed. John Burrow, Heron Information The Australian National Place Names Books, Switzerland, 1969. Survey article by Jan Tent on Biographical information about Willem how one of Janszoon’s place Quotation from a history textbook, Janszoon names may be the first recorded 1972 http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/ aboriginal word. See the PDF He [James Cook] had not discov- 0-dict-biogI-K.html#jansz1 ‘Two of Australia’s first recorded ered any great continent in the south Timeline of the ship Duyfken placenames’. pacific; but he had virtually proved that http://www.duyfken.com/original/ http://www.anps.org.au/about.html it did not exist. He had not discovered braveship.html T.D. Mutch, The First Discovery of New Zealand; but he had correctly National Library of Australia site on Australia With an account of reduced its dimensions from fiction Duyfken and Dutch mapping and the Voyage of the ‘Duyfken’ and to fact. He had not discovered ‘New discoveries. the Career of Captain Willem Holland’; but he had discovered the http://www.nla.gov.au/exhibitions/ Jansz,
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