YB DOORSTROOM

 Centenary Celebrations of Discovery of Australia / 400 jaar ontdekking van Australie in 2006

2006: Australia discovered 400 years ago by the Dutch / Nederlanders 400 jaar in 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

• Organise school projects into VOC history
  
• Charter events at the time
  
• Research the nautical logbooks of the VOC library
  
• Explore the possible routes taken by early Dutch survivers, to find evidence of their activities
  
• Set up joint Art programmes between Dutch and Aboriginal artists
  
• Investigate aboriginal history and culture for impact of the early settlers
  
• Conduct research into the mystery of the 200 year old European bones in the WA museum in Perth
  
• any other activity

Consult the http://www.voc.iinet.net.au Holland Update for findings by projects carried out so far: Some of the 1300 shipwrecks along the WA coast being adopted by primary schools

Investigation of the Gulen Draeck logbook, and the lost treasure of 180,000 guilders still out there on the ocean
Locating the graves of Dutch sailors who perished on the WA shores
Investigating the claim that rock scratchings are not even Dutch, but Egyptian in origin (see http://www.home.zonnet.nl/pollie_37/EgypteAus.htm on an Egyptian connection 5000 years old in Hunter Valley National Park near Sydney.
In a two-chamber cave, about 250 etchings were found very similar from aboriginal style, andvery close to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Clearest image is a picture of Nubis, with the typical fox head.
Ray Johnson translated the stories to that of a shipwreck at the time
of Cheops. The leader of the Egyptian expedition perished whilst trying to find water in land. There must have been a link as mummies of kangaroos and other Aussie animals were found in 1982 near Fayum.
Two boomerangs were found in Tutachamon's grave.
Other puzzling evidence: the statue of Gympy, resembling the Egyptian god Thoth, and the layered hill near Gympy, resembling a terraced pyramid 30 meters high. A similar pyramid can be foud near Penrith....

Contact: Tom Vandervelt, secretary VOC SOC, 17a Queens Rd, Mt Pleasant 6153 WA Australia (tel ... 93 16 8204)

For information about the Dutch, contact the Dutch Courier in Melbourne <hr>
For Comments, email to:
ammerlaan@ammerlaan.demon.nl

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DUTCH AUSTRALIAN EMIGRANTS: MIGRANTEN CLUBS, STATISTICS ... - [ Vertaal deze pagina ]

Birra News Number 51, 2 May 2005

Tiwi Islanders, Dutch Forge New Ties
"The Tiwi Land Council says yesterday's commemoration marking 300 years since Dutch navigators arrived at Melville Island was a great success. The day included Tiwi and Dutch dancing and was attended by the Netherlands Ambassador to Australia, Dr Hans Sondaal. The land council's John Hicks says the success of the day highlights the ties being forged between the two cultures. Mr Hicks says the Dutch are already involved in a sea cage barramundi farm on the islands and are looking to extend that with two more leases. 'We have agreements that contemplate we can buy out and participate in the sea cage farms themselves and as it gets closer to the communities - there's one here actually in Snake Bay which we hope is in operation by the end of 2006 and that will be very encouraging for the people that live here,' he said."(ABC)

 Australie Bescheiden Nederlanders - Australie.nl

De Nederlandse Ambassadeur Dr. Hans H.M.Sondaal, begon zijn lezing met de opmerking dat hij meer het gevoel had dat hij een muzikaal stuk ging vertolken dan ...
www.australie.nl/id/1/6340 -

Terug naar de lezing. Het kwam eigenlijk hier op neer: Nederlanders zijn veel te bescheiden in Australië. We hebben veel meer overeenkomsten dan de Australiërs denken en daarom staat 2006 in het teken van profileren. De relatie verdiepen is mooi, maar als je constateert dat de zichtbaarheid niet groot is dan moet je daar wat aan doen, aldus Hans Sondaal. In 2006 is het dus 400 jaar geleden dat het schip de Duyvken op de Australische westkust landde en het begin aankondigde van de Europese exploratie van Australië. Dit zou als een prachtige kapstok kunnen gelden voor de geplande activiteiten in 2006.

Deze activiteiten zijn onderverdeeld in een viertal thema’s:

1. Zeevaarders. In samenwerking met het bedrijf Australië on the map is het de bedoeling dat wij de Australiërs eens een goede les in de zeevaarders geschiedenis gaan geven met tentoonstellingen, symposia en meer.

2. Hulpverlening in de tweede wereldoorlog.

3. Emigratie in de 50-60 jaren. Niet veel Australiërs zullen weten dat 1.3% van de bevolking Nederlands is. Het wordt tijd dat dit naar voren gebracht wordt, aldus de Nederlandse Ambassadeur.

4. Nederland laten zien zoals het nu is.

En nu maar hopen dat aan het eind van 2006 de Australiërs in staat zullen zijn om de bovenstaande thema’s in verband te kunnen brengen met het immens populaire Holland Heineken Huis tijdens de Olympische spelen, want toen wisten ze ons wel te vinden! (Voor een volledig verslag van de lezing, klik hier voor de opname van de SBS radio)

artikel Hans Sondaal