Batavia_ENG

1950s

The growth of the Abrolhos Islands western rock lobster fishery.

LOCATION

Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Aerial view of Beacon Island taken from the north, showing fishers’ buildings prior to removal in 2014.

Credit: WA Museum

1960

Buried skeletal remains are discovered by cray fisherman ‘Pop’ Marten.

LOCATION

Beacon Island, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

‘Pop’ Marten, 1963.

Credit: M. Brown, BTH_69

1963

Batavia’s wreck site is found by primary discoverers Dave Johnson, Henrietta Drake-Brockman, Hugh Edwards, Max Cramer, and secondary discoverers Greg Allen, Graham Cramer and Bruce Melrose. Artefacts and cannon are raised.

LOCATION

Morning Reef, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Dave Johnson stands next to Henrietta Drake-Brockman, Hugh Edwards and George Brenzi crouched over the skeleton of a Batavia victim, during excavations in 1963.

Credit: M. Brown, BTH_59

1963

Voyage to Disaster is published by Henrietta Drake-Brockman.

LOCATION

Perth, Western Australia

Henrietta Drake-Brockman in 1944.

Credit: State Library of Victoria, LTAF 1250/125

1964

The Museum Act 1959 amended to protect early Dutch and English East Indiamen wrecks on the WA coast.

LOCATION

Perth, Western Australia

Museum Act Amendment Act 1964. Section 20A outlines the responsibilities of finders to report historic wrecks to the WA Museum.

Credit: Department of Justice

1966

Islands of Angry Ghosts is published by Hugh Edwards.

LOCATION

Perth, Western Australia

Hugh Edwards in 1963.

Credit: M. Brown, BTH_87

1968

The WA Museum establishes a watch-keeping operation to protect the Batavia wreck site, with Museum staff intermittently stationed on the island over several years.

Location

Beacon Island, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

WA Museum watch-keeping camp on Beacon Island, date unknown.

Credit: WA Museum

1970

The WA Museum survey of the Batavia wreck site and Beacon Island.

LOCATION

Morning Reef, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

WA Museum diver with a cannon during the 1970 survey of the Batavia wreck site.

Credit: WA Museum, BTA_006z

1972-1976

Excavation of the Batavia underwater site by the WA Museum, raising of timbers and survey of inside reef area.

LOCATION

Morning Reef, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Raising the fashion piece of Batavia, 1975.

Credit: WA Museum, BTA_840z

1973

First ANCODS (Agreement between Australia and the Netherlands Concerning Old Dutch Shipwrecks) meeting.

Enactment of the State Maritime Archaeology Act 1973.

Survey of land sites associated with Batavia on Beacon Island and West Wallabi Island.

The agreement created strong ties between Australia and the Netherlands, as seen by this later ANCODS event at the WA Shipwrecks Museum, date unknown.

Credit: WA Museum

1976

Enactment of the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.

LOCATION

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Page from Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976

Credit: Australian Government

1977

First conference in the Southern Hemisphere on maritime archaeology, held 3-8 September.

LOCATION

Perth, Western Australia

Justice Kennedy, Chair of Museum Board speaking at the opening of the conference. Seated at the table are WA Museum Director John Bannister, WA Premier Sir Charles Court, Minister for Cultural Affairs Peter Jones, and Peter Ryan from the Department of Administrative Services.

Credit: WA Museum, MA670_2

1979

The WA Maritime Museum, Shipwreck Galleries housing the reconstructed Batavia hull and excavated artefacts officially opened on 5 September 1979.

LOCATION

Fremantle, Western Australia

WA Maritime Museum, Shipwreck Galleries. It is now the WA Shipwrecks Museum.

Credit: WA Museum

1980

WA Museum conducts excavations on Beacon Island and West Wallabi Island.

LOCATION

Wallabi Group, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Brass hasp, recovered in 1980.

Credit: WA Museum, BAT3848

2005

WA Museum undertakes archaeological survey of Long Island.

LOCATION

Long Island, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Using a Differential GPS on Long Island.

Credit: WA Museum

2006

The Batavia (1629) Shipwreck and Survivor Camps Area placed on National Heritage List.

LOCATION

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Batavia Shipwreck Site and Survivor Camps Area as recognised on National Heritage List.

Credit: WA Museum

2007

WA Museum fieldwork including West Wallabi Island structure excavation, Long Island survey, East Wallabi survey, and Beacon Island Ground Penetrating Radar survey.

LOCATION

Wallabi Group, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Sieving material excavated outside the coastal structure on West Wallabi Island in July 2007.

Credit: WA Museum, P2071086

2011

ANCODS (Agreement between Australia and the Netherlands Concerning Old Dutch Shipwrecks) Collection handed over to Australia from the Netherlands Government. The collection consists of artefacts recovered from the four Dutch East India Company ships that sank along the WA coast in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, including Batavia. The collection includes bullion, cargo and building materials, navigational equipment, arms and armament, medical supplies, personal possessions of the crew and passengers, human and animal remains, and other artefacts relating to the ships, their sails and rigging.

LOCATION

Perth, Western Australia

Former Minister of Culture and the Arts John Day and Netherlands Ambassador His Excellency Mr Willem Andreae viewing artefacts from the ANCODS collection with WA Museum Curator Dr Wendy van Duivenvoorde.

Credit: WA Museum

2014

Removal of fishers’ camps, outbuildings, jetties and other structures on Beacon Island by the WA State Government.

LOCATION

Beacon Island, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Aerial view of Beacon Island with all buildings and structures removed.

Credit: WA Museum

2014-2018

The Shipwrecks of the Roaring 40s Australian Research Council Project. Multiple expeditions and excavations of skeletal remains from Beacon Island undertaken by the WA Museum, University of Western Australia and other national and international partners.

LOCATION

Beacon Island, Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Archaeologists at work on Beacon Island.

Credit: WA Museum | University of Western Australia

2019

Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park declared 25 July 2019.

LOCATION

Geraldton, Western Australia

WA Premier Hon Mark McGowan MLA, Mayor Shane Van Styn, Member for the Agricultural Region Laurie Graham MLC, Minister for Environment Hon Stephen Dawson MLC and Member for the Agricultural Region Darren West MLC at the announcement event.

Credit: City of Greater Geraldton