Australia on the Map
Encyclopedia
Australia on the Map is the history and heritage division of the Australasian Hydrographic Society. It seeks to enhance Australians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the nation’s early history, beginning in 1606 with the voyages of Willem Janszoon
in the Duyfken
and Luis Váez de Torres in Los Tres Reyes and San Pedro, and continuing to the present.
in 2002 as the vehicle for fostering commemorations in 2006 of the 400th anniversary of the charting of west Cape York, the first documented visit to Australia by Europeans, and Torres voyage through Torres Strait shortly after.
A national organisation was formed, its Patron was initially Hon. Kim Beazley
AC, and subsequently Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie
AO RANR, former Chief of Navy.
In 2006 in excess of 150 commemorative events occurred nationwide, the feature being a commemorative voyage along the west, south and east coasts of continental Australia, and Tasmania by the Duyfken
replica.
In April 2007 Australia on the Map: 1606 – 2006 was formally wound up. Shortly after the Australia on the Map Division was formed and became part of the Australasian Hydrographic Society structure.
• Focus on the period from 1606 onwards.
• Give due recognition to all relevant navigators of all nationalities in the mapping of the Australian coast.
• Ensure important landmarks are commemorated take place on a nation-wide basis and occurs in all states and territories
• Have strong community involvement, engaging, as far as possible all Australians, regardless of age, creed, gender, socio-economic group or ethnicity.
• Highlight the mariners’ contacts with the land and between them and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, as well as the historical and cultural implications of those contacts.
The Australia on the Map Division website is an important educational tool for the organisation. It features what is known as the “Landings List”, which provides a brief entry on every episode of contact and other significant cartographic developments from 1606 to 1814. It also carries the only online translation of the original 1602 VOC Charter of the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC - Dutch East India Company), developed as a result research project.
The Australia on the Map Division had significant input into the process of the development of a National Education Curriculum. Through its Publicity and Promotion activities the Australia on the Map Division has help to facilitate one documentary, and is assisting a number of other documentaries in development.
Commemorative Infrastructure being promoted by the Australia on the Map Division includes the concepts an Explorers Commemorative Area in the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra and a National Events Corporation. Research Projects undertaken by the Australia on the Map Division include the online translation of the VOC Charter and the current Search for the Deadwater Wreck.
The resulted in special exhibitions at the State Library of New South Wales
, and numerous papers being given at various conferences and published in journals. Two events were highlights of the commemorations. The first was a presentation by Henry de Freycinet, the last male descendant of the de Freycinet family, of a signed copy of the original map to the Governor-General of Australia
, Ms Quentin Bryce
on 16 June 2011.
The second was a symposium, The Freycinet Map of 1811 – 200th Anniversary of the Publication of the First Map of Australia, held at the National Library of Australia
on 19 June 2011. This event involved close collaboration between the Australia on the Map Division, the National Library of Australia
and the French Embassy and was addressed by the most eminent French scholars in Australia.
on the coast of Western Australia in 1712. Australia on the Map has also been promoting the concept of “Naming Australia/Nommer l’Australie” as a commemorative theme for the 200th anniversary of the publication of Matthew Flinders
’ 1814 map of Australia, Terra Australis or Australia. Finally, the Australia on the Map Division has begun preliminary planning, in conjunction with other stakeholders to develop commemorations in 2016 to mark the first European contact with the west coast of Australia by visit of Dirk Hartog
in the Eendracht
in 1616. It was on this historic occasion that Hartog left the famous Hartog Plate
.
* 1602 VOC Charter
Willem Janszoon
Willem Janszoon , Dutch navigator and colonial governor, is probably the first European known to have seen the coast of Australia. His name is sometimes abbreviated to Willem Jansz....
in the Duyfken
Duyfken
Duyfken was a small Dutch ship built in the Netherlands. She was a fast, lightly armed ship probably intended for shallow water, small valuable cargoes, bringing messages, sending provisions, or privateering...
and Luis Váez de Torres in Los Tres Reyes and San Pedro, and continuing to the present.
Origins
Australia on the Map Division of the Australasian Hydrographic Society is the successor organisation to Australia on the Map: 1606 – 2006. Australia on the Map: 1606 – 2006 was formed by Peter Reynders and Rupert GerritsenRupert Gerritsen
Rupert Gerritsen is a noted authority on Indigenous Australian prehistory. Coupled with his work on early Australian cartography he has played an influential part in re-charting Australian history prior to its settlement by the British in 1788.-Early Years:...
in 2002 as the vehicle for fostering commemorations in 2006 of the 400th anniversary of the charting of west Cape York, the first documented visit to Australia by Europeans, and Torres voyage through Torres Strait shortly after.
A national organisation was formed, its Patron was initially Hon. Kim Beazley
Kim Beazley
In the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
AC, and subsequently Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie
Chris Ritchie
Vice Admiral Christopher Angus Ritchie AO is a retired Vice Admiral of the Royal Australian Navy, and was Chief of Navy from 2002 to 2005.-Service history:Ritchie graduated from the RAN College at Jervis Bay in 1968...
AO RANR, former Chief of Navy.
In 2006 in excess of 150 commemorative events occurred nationwide, the feature being a commemorative voyage along the west, south and east coasts of continental Australia, and Tasmania by the Duyfken
Duyfken
Duyfken was a small Dutch ship built in the Netherlands. She was a fast, lightly armed ship probably intended for shallow water, small valuable cargoes, bringing messages, sending provisions, or privateering...
replica.
Formation
At the conclusion of 2006 those involved in Australia on the Map: 1606 – 2006 came to the realisation that there were significant limitations to Australian’s knowledge of their early history. It was recognised that there needed to be ongoing education and awareness raising of the Australian community to overcome this limitation. At the same time the Australasian Hydrographic Society saw a need for greater awareness of hydrographic history and heritage among its members and stakeholders. Consequently they invited those involved in Australia on the Map: 1606 – 2006 to form a new history and heritage ‘region’, to be known as Australia on the Map Division.In April 2007 Australia on the Map: 1606 – 2006 was formally wound up. Shortly after the Australia on the Map Division was formed and became part of the Australasian Hydrographic Society structure.
Aims
Based on its Vision, of seeking “to enhance Australians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the nation’s early history,” the Australia on the Map Division developed a number of broad aims. These are to:• Focus on the period from 1606 onwards.
• Give due recognition to all relevant navigators of all nationalities in the mapping of the Australian coast.
• Ensure important landmarks are commemorated take place on a nation-wide basis and occurs in all states and territories
• Have strong community involvement, engaging, as far as possible all Australians, regardless of age, creed, gender, socio-economic group or ethnicity.
• Highlight the mariners’ contacts with the land and between them and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, as well as the historical and cultural implications of those contacts.
Activities
The Australia on the Map Division is a voluntary organisation which engages in a range of activities to promote it vision and aims in the areas of Commemorative Infrastructure, Commemorative Events, Heritage Projects, Research Projects, Research Promotion, Education Projects, (Curriculum and Capacity, Publicity and Promotion) and Strategic Activities.The Australia on the Map Division website is an important educational tool for the organisation. It features what is known as the “Landings List”, which provides a brief entry on every episode of contact and other significant cartographic developments from 1606 to 1814. It also carries the only online translation of the original 1602 VOC Charter of the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC - Dutch East India Company), developed as a result research project.
The Australia on the Map Division had significant input into the process of the development of a National Education Curriculum. Through its Publicity and Promotion activities the Australia on the Map Division has help to facilitate one documentary, and is assisting a number of other documentaries in development.
Commemorative Infrastructure being promoted by the Australia on the Map Division includes the concepts an Explorers Commemorative Area in the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra and a National Events Corporation. Research Projects undertaken by the Australia on the Map Division include the online translation of the VOC Charter and the current Search for the Deadwater Wreck.
Commemorations
Australia on the Map endeavours to foster commemorations of significant landmarks in early Australian history. In 2011 it promoted the 200th anniversary of the publication of the first full map of Australia in 1811 by Louis de Freycinet.The resulted in special exhibitions at the State Library of New South Wales
State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Macquarie Street, Sydney near Shakespeare Place...
, and numerous papers being given at various conferences and published in journals. Two events were highlights of the commemorations. The first was a presentation by Henry de Freycinet, the last male descendant of the de Freycinet family, of a signed copy of the original map to the Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, Ms Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland....
on 16 June 2011.
The second was a symposium, The Freycinet Map of 1811 – 200th Anniversary of the Publication of the First Map of Australia, held at the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
on 19 June 2011. This event involved close collaboration between the Australia on the Map Division, the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
and the French Embassy and was addressed by the most eminent French scholars in Australia.
Future Plans
Australia on the Map has already been engaged in preparations for commemorations in coming years. Planning is underway to mark the 300th anniversary in 2012 of the sinking of the ZuytdorpZuytdorp
The VOC Zuytdorp also Zuiddorp was a trading ship of the Dutch East India Company in the 18th century. On 1 August 1711 it was dispatched from the Netherlands to the trading port of Batavia bearing a load of freshly minted silver coins.Many trading ships of the time had started to use a "fast...
on the coast of Western Australia in 1712. Australia on the Map has also been promoting the concept of “Naming Australia/Nommer l’Australie” as a commemorative theme for the 200th anniversary of the publication of Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
’ 1814 map of Australia, Terra Australis or Australia. Finally, the Australia on the Map Division has begun preliminary planning, in conjunction with other stakeholders to develop commemorations in 2016 to mark the first European contact with the west coast of Australia by visit of Dirk Hartog
Dirk Hartog
Dirk Hartog was a 17th century Dutch sailor and explorer. Dirk Hartog's expedition was the third European group to land on Australian soil. He was the first to leave behind an artifact to record his visit, the Hartog plate. His name is sometimes alternatively spelled Dirck Hartog or Dierick...
in the Eendracht
Eendracht
The Eendracht is a former tidal branch of river Scheldt that has been channelised to form the northern stretch of the Scheldt-Rhine Canal. It flows from the Markiezaatsmeer lake near Bergen op Zoom past the town and eponymous island of Tholen towards the former island of Sint-Philipsland, where it...
in 1616. It was on this historic occasion that Hartog left the famous Hartog Plate
Hartog Plate
Hartog Plate or Dirk Hartog's Plate is either of two plates, although primarily the first, which were left on Dirk Hartog Island during a period of European exploration of the western coast of Australia prior to European settlement there...
.
Links to Reference Material
- Willem JanszoonWillem JanszoonWillem Janszoon , Dutch navigator and colonial governor, is probably the first European known to have seen the coast of Australia. His name is sometimes abbreviated to Willem Jansz....
- DuyfkenDuyfkenDuyfken was a small Dutch ship built in the Netherlands. She was a fast, lightly armed ship probably intended for shallow water, small valuable cargoes, bringing messages, sending provisions, or privateering...
- Luis Váez de Torres
- Kim BeazleyKim BeazleyIn the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
- Chris RitchieChris RitchieVice Admiral Christopher Angus Ritchie AO is a retired Vice Admiral of the Royal Australian Navy, and was Chief of Navy from 2002 to 2005.-Service history:Ritchie graduated from the RAN College at Jervis Bay in 1968...
- Chief of Navy
* 1602 VOC Charter
- Verenigde Oostindische CompagnieDutch East India CompanyThe Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
- Quentin BryceQuentin BryceQuentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland....
- ZuytdorpZuytdorpThe VOC Zuytdorp also Zuiddorp was a trading ship of the Dutch East India Company in the 18th century. On 1 August 1711 it was dispatched from the Netherlands to the trading port of Batavia bearing a load of freshly minted silver coins.Many trading ships of the time had started to use a "fast...
- Matthew FlindersMatthew FlindersCaptain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
- EendrachtEendracht (1615 ship)The Eendracht was an early 17th Century Dutch wooden-hulled sailing ship, launched in 1615 in the service of the Dutch East India Company...
- Hartog PlateHartog PlateHartog Plate or Dirk Hartog's Plate is either of two plates, although primarily the first, which were left on Dirk Hartog Island during a period of European exploration of the western coast of Australia prior to European settlement there...