It's hard to believe that over the past 400 years over 1400 ships have gone down along the coast of WA. What a dreadful way to come to your end at the bottom of the sea. Back in the 1600's the navigational equipment was not adequate to survive the wild seas along the West coast. Above and below the remains of the Batavia, the first Dutch (VOC) East Indian Company ship sailing from Amsterdam, shipwrecked on her maiden voyage after an unsuccessful hijack, you'll have to click the Batavia link and read the grisly tale!
During 1970/74 the timbers from the stern of the Batavia, an anchor, some of the cannon and many artifacts were salvaged. The divers also brought up 137 sandstone blocks which made up into the huge portico facade you see below.. on her way to Jakarta, known then as Batavia, this was to be an impressive sea gate. There's just so much history here, if you are interested in the sea journeys of these brave explorers, the links are really informative. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe... p.s. you know there's more to come right :)
I would have been in awe looking at these pieces of history. Imagine that ship sinking to the bottom of the ocean hundreds of years ago never to be seen again and yet here are pieces of it and it's cargo on view to a modern world. Just thinking about that is enough to inspire me.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how well wood survives under water!
ReplyDelete...it's amazing that it survived.
ReplyDeleteSão fantásticas estas peças arqueológicas.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e bom fim-de-semana.
Andarilhar
Sort of the Oz equivilent of our Mary Rose. WHat a wonderful muuseum to visit
ReplyDeleteIncredible that the pieces survived all that time. The crew, yes some of them were brave but others were truly corrupt. The Batavia story was good! Thanks Grace for the link!
ReplyDeleteThe seafarers of old were always in danger and many did not make it back home. Of course, some were criminals who were given the option to going to sea or going to the gallows. I'm wondering if they've many old wrecks off your coast. Great series of photos. Thanks for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteAmazing what can still be recovered after all that time. A lot of ships have gone down over centuries.
ReplyDeleteI never knew parts of the Batavia could be seen in Perth! Thanks for posting this, Grace!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating exhibit Grace. I love seeing stuff like this. We have had quite a few shipwrecks off the coast of Florida too.
ReplyDeleteReminds me very much of our Outer Banks, aka the "Graveyard of the Atlantic".
ReplyDeleteReminds me very much of our Outer Banks, aka the "Graveyard of the Atlantic".
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the cannon can still be fired.
ReplyDeleteNice tour Grace.
Great post and pictures here Grace.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the time I went to the Mary Rose Museum
http://www.maryrose.org/
Hope your weekend is going well.
All the best Jan
winds of history and wonder
ReplyDeleteFascinating old timbers and so love the enigmatic lighting in each of these photos.
ReplyDeleteAmazing views of the ancients remains of the ships.
ReplyDeleteI´d never been that brave, Grace.
ReplyDeleteCrazy the wood made it over such a long period of time!
I think it's amazing, the wreckages that have been found in the ocean. Given how long it took to find the Titanic, what else might be lying at the bottom of the world's oceans?
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! I got confused for a minute by the abbreviation WA. Here that means Washington State! They have a seacoast too. Of course, I know Perth is in Australia, so I guess WA is Western Australia in this course.
ReplyDeleteThe thought of sailing for three years or more, crossing ten thousand miles of sea in such a small craft is mind boggling!
ReplyDeleteFascinating. Like the ships I saw in museums in Oslo and Stockholm.
ReplyDeleteWow, interesting and fascinating post, Grace !
ReplyDeletei will keep in mind usually having bananas when i used to be growing up, which was a image I carried over to maturity. our brain is Bored Ever observed yourself at the purchasing middle or your favored keep due to the fact you had nothing else to do? Feeling bored is what drives many people to shop or.For more ==== >>>>>> http://musclegainfast.com/ion-z/
ReplyDelete