Centenary Celebrations of Discovery of Australia / 400 jaar ontdekking van
Australie in 2006
In 2006, it
will be 400 years ago that the large landmass that mathematicians and
cartographers
had speculated about was finally discovered by Dutch crew on
Duyfken. There are indications Egyptians inhabited the south
land thousands
of years ago. Sumerian and Maya descriptions of a lost land in the ocean
have been found. On Crates' map of the world, Australia is named 'Antoecie'
as on the Grek map by Eratosthenese in 239 BC. Scientists in the late
middle
ages argued that there
must be a southern landmass to counterbalance the
Northern known world. The discovery of
the America's had suggested their
must be a landmass south of Euro-Asia, but until 400
years there was no
proof.
However, in 1606 they proved to be right when Dutch VOC
seafarers made a landing,
and 300 kilometres of coastline was chartered. It
was the Duyfken, with a crew of 20
captained by Willem Janszoon who
discovered Terra Australis or the South Lands for
the western
civilisation.
Dirk Hartog charted the West Australian coast, in 1616. He left the pewter
plate on
Dirk Hartog Island at Shark Bay and using the information from
these two, subsequent
explorers like Abel Tasman and James Cooke charted
other coasts of Australia.
Since Cooke had the good fortune of sailing up
the east coast with its many inlets and
harbours, the British got the best
cards for settling the land.
The earliest white settlers recorded were Wouter Loos and Jan Pelgrom de Bye,
two
young mutineers from the Batavia shipwreck who were abandoned the on the
WA coast.
The Batavia had been on its way to Indonesia, and using the
prevailing western winds had
straddled too far south, and had bumped into
the reefs along the WA coast. The crew decided to take over the ship from its
captain, and set camp on the nearby Abrolhos Island. The captain and first
officers were dumped in a rowing boat.
Instead of succumbing, they managed
to row an epic distance north towards Batavia town,
and mount a rescue party
to reclaim the ship and its passengers and goods.
On return they found that
the crew had killed, raped many of the passengers, and with the
help of
soldiers the crewmen were killed, hung or imprisoned. The VOC had severe
penalties against mutineers.
As other VOC ships also used the Western Winds to head for Batavia quickly,
and as
navigation was not overly accurate still, more VOC ships saw the WA
coast. In 1656 the
Gilt Dragon ran aground on a reef just south of ledge
point, and 68 survivors were forced
to make home on the WA coast. Others
joined them from the Zuytdorp when it ran
aground in 1712. There are
indications from early discoverers ,
tales in aboriginal history,
and navigation markings on rocks near Palm
Valley (central Australia) that suggest these
white immigrants may have
mixed and influenced local aboriginal tribes. A Scottish
traveller's log
reports of seeing white aborigines, and aborigines wearing white round
fluffy collars around their necks (in the way of Dutch fashion at that
time).
Serious research by the Bush Tucker man into these allegations
convinced him that
although direct physical evidence has not been found, the
tales appear true. He also
concluded that decent anthropological/
archeological research into these traces has not
yet been
done.
As late as 1829, 200 years after the Batavia tragedy, James
Stirling sailed up the Swan
River to establish a regular WA pioneer colony.
Despite the English domination in
Australian history books, Western
Australia has 154 years more European history than
NSW on the east
coast.
In many ways, the discovery is historical: few
countries have ben linked throughout history for
such a longtime as
Australia and the Netherlands. In addition to historical and business ties,
social and cultural ties abound through the many thousands of immigrants
now. It is estimated
that currrently one quarter of a million Australians
have Dutch blood in them.
Another aspect of the discovery refers to the tremendous impact of
white culture on ancient
aboriginal culture. Early contact with the Dutch
seafares appears to have been friendly in
WA (as oppose to encounters further
north in Cape Keerweer where aboriginal
people forced the Dutch to turn
round) and the intriguing story of white-aboriginals and
aboriginals wearing
Dutch clothing keeps cropping up.
ACTIVITIES
There is a persist rumour of a Dutch royal coming to
visit WA, and indications are Prins Alexander and wife will be attending.
Murdoch University is collaborating in obtaining
oral history from the Nyunga people.
Financial support is sought to preserve
as much as possible in view of the age of Nyunga elders and the size of the
tribe.
Several Dutch ships have been forced to land on WA coasts, from Vergulde
Draeck, Witte Valk, Sardam, Zeewijck en Zuijtdorp. A period of unwritten WA
history is going to be made.
Activities in the Netherlans: for a full list visit Nederland-Australie2006.nl for exhibitions, a Congres on Dutch migration in march, etc. Details: Bureau Nederland-Australie, Groot Hertoginnenlaan 27, 2517 The Hague 31-70 360 7594 nl.aus@tiscali.nl
In Australia, the Dutch embassey coordinates activities: 120 Empire Circuit, Yarralumla ACT 2600, Canbera 61 2 622 094 00 can@minbuz.nl
The VOC Historical Society in WA is looked for partners to
celebrate and commemorate the European discovery in 2006. Its intention is
to set up activities, foster bonds and initiate joint activities in order to
make Dutch and Australian citizens aware of the discovery 400 years
ago.
Wouldn't it be good to
Contact: Tom Vandervelt, secretary VOC SOC, 17a Queens Rd, Mt Pleasant 6153 WA Australia (tel ... 93 16 8204)