15 June
2006 - Thousands of people will have a rare opportunity
to experience a working 16th century vessel with
the arrival today into Geelong of a replica of
the Dutch ship Duyfken.
The Duyfken is undertaking a
12,000 km voyage to commemorate the 400th anniversary
of the first documented European contact with
Australia. She will be moored at Steam Packet
Quay until 20 June.
Australian Minister for the
Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
said this important journey – which will see Duyfken
stop at 25 ports around the country – would highlight
our early maritime history.
“In 1606, Captain Willem Janszoon
and his crew onboard Duyfken sailed from the Indonesian
island of Banda in search of gold and trade opportunities
on the fabled island of Nova Guinea. They did
not find gold – but they did find the northern
coast of a huge continent: Australia,” Senator
Campbell said.
“Willem Janszoon mapped the
first 350 km of Australia’s coastline, along the
western shore of Cape York to Cape Keerweer. It
was the beginning of the charting of Australia’s
25,000 km coastline; a coastline that today is
rich in natural, historical and Indigenous heritage
treasures.”
Federal Member for Corangamite,
Stewart McArthur MP, welcomed Duyfken to Geelong,
and said over the next five days the almost forgotten
story of our early European visitors will be brought
to life.
“The Duyfken visit will enable
the public to learn more about a defining period
in our heritage that saw the ‘Little Dove’ sail
into our history and put Australia on the map,”
he said.
Duyfken will be open to the
public between 9am and 5pm.
The Australian Government has
provided major sponsorship of $495,000 for the
journey, which is the centrepiece of its 2006
focus on coastal and maritime heritage. The voyage
is a partnership between the Australian Government,
the Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation, and volunteer
group Australia on the Map 1606-2006. / Rob Broadfield
(Senator Campbell’s office) / Simon Price (Mr
McArthur’s office)
For further information on Duyfken,
or to read the Captain’s log, visit www.duyfken.com
