One of Australia’s greatest maritime mysteries will be explored in the next In the Wild West series lecture at the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton on September 13 and 14, 2012.
WA Museum maritime archaeology curator Dr Michael McCarthy will present ‘Wreck of the Zuytdorp’ a public lecture about the Dutch East India Company trading ship which wrecked off the coast of Kalbarri in 1712.
Dr McCarthy said research is ongoing to reveal exactly what happened before and after the Zuytdorp wrecked.
“Since the 1960s, Western Australian Museum staff have been searching for answers to the mysteries surrounding the Zuytdorp, which wrecked en route from the Netherlands to Batavia (now Jakarta) during the winter of 1712.
“Of the seven Dutch, English, Portuguese and American East India Company ships known to be lost off the Western Australia coast, Zuytdorp is the only wreck from which survivors did not reach Batavia to tell the tale,” Dr McCarthy said.
The wreck site is one of the most dangerous in the world to explore due to the combination of unbroken offshore waves and underlying reefs.
Since 1986 research has focused on understanding what happened to the survivors.
“There is evidence to suggest people camped on the cliffs for a period of time, but nothing has yet proven exactly what happened to them after that."
“Three hundred years after the ship wrecked, the Zuytdorp is still one of Australia’s greatest ever maritime mysteries, and what befell its crew and passengers continues to occupy both the maritime and greater community,” Dr McCarthy said.
Dr Michael McCarthy is a curator in the Maritime Archaeology department at the Western Australian Museum. Dr McCarthy has been responsible for the Museum’s HMAS Sydney program and the excavation of many historic sites including the Zuytdorp (1712); the iron hulled SS Xantho (1872); and the submerged WWII flying boats at Broome.
Entry to the lecture is by gold coin donation, with bookings essential online at www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest or by calling 9921 5080.
The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West is proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.
LECTURE: ‘Wreck of the Zuytdorp’
WHEN: Thursday 13 September, 7pm and Friday 14 September, 10am
WHERE: Western Australian Museum – Geraldton, Museum Place, Batavia Coast Marina, Geraldton
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest ...
COST: By gold coin donation
Niki Comparti
Western Australian Museum
6552 7805
Niki.Comparti@museum.wa.gov.au
