Geraldton historian Max Cramer was one of the driving forces behind the push for a suitable museum in which to house the relics from early shipwrecks off the Mid West coast.
WA Museum – Geraldton advisory committee chair Malcolm Smith said Mr Cramer had been keenly interested in maritime history, particularly the history surrounding the Dutch East India Company wrecks in the Geraldton and Abrolhos areas.
“Max chaired the Board of the former Geraldton Maritime Museum and was at the helm when it went from being a municipal museum to a formal branch of the Western Australian Museum in 1981, after which he continued as a committee member for several years,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Cramer was a co-finder of the wreck of the now famous VOC ship Batavia (1629) and Zeewijk (1727). He was also a member of the first team to dive on the VOC ship Zuytdorp (1711).
He co-led the team that located the site of the 1772 French annexation of the Shark Bay region and in the recovery of relics from that site.
Mr Smith said Mr Cramer had been a source of inspiration for him.
“He had immense knowledge and experience in local history, particularly maritime history, which he shared generously with me and with many others,” Mr Smith said.
“I am thankful for the intense interest Max kindled in me for the State’s history - his local knowledge of this region will be missed both here and elsewhere in the world.”
Long standing chairman of the former Geraldton Regional Museum Board. Dr Mort Harslett, also praised Mr Cramer’s energetic and passionate commitment to relocating Batavia maritime artifacts to Geraldton.
“Max made a strong contribution to the vision and concept of the new Geraldton Museum and his outstanding achievements in maritime archaeological exploration in the Mid-West has contributed substantially to the world wide recognition of the richness of Batavia Coast Dutch maritime history,” Dr Harslett said.
In 2008 Mr Cramer was acknowledged for his service to maritime history and the community of Geraldton when he was honoured with an Order of Australia medal.
Mr Smith extended the sincere sympathies of the advisory committee and present and former staff of WA Museum Geraldton to Mr Cramer’s wife Ines and to his family.
Media contact: Catherine Belcher on 99215080
