Laurie & Whittle: A Chart of Van Diemen's Land, the South Extremity of New Holland
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cartographer:
|
Laurie & Whittle
|
|
Title:
|
A Chart of Van Diemen's Land, the South Extremity of New Holland
|
|
Date:
|
1798
|
|
Published:
|
London
|
|
Width:
|
26 inches / 67 cm
|
|
Height:
|
22 inches / 56 cm
|
|
Map ref:
|
AUNZ2751
|
|
Description:
|
|
| Famous and important chart showing the survey performed by Capt. John Hayes of what was later to become the Derwent River and the future site of Hobart, Tasmania.
Capt. John Hayes, later to become Commodore Sir John Hayes Senior Officer of the Bombay Marine, was a lifelong employee of the British East India Company and served in several crucial military campaigns in India and the Far East; these include the Siege of Seringapatam, the Siege of Ternate, the Capture of Java and the First Anglo-Burmese War.
The above chart is the result of a landmark voyage of exploration made by Hayes in 1792-94. Hayes was instrumental in convincing two merchants in Bombay to commission a private voyage to explore the commercial viability of New Guinea, specifically as a source for nutmeg. Initially during the voyage, Hayes was unable to reach New Guinea due to adverse winds so he sailed South and explored the South coast of Van Diemen's Land. He sailed and surveyed a large river, naming various capes, islands and geographical features after his ships, the Duke of Clarence and Duchess as well as after famous powerful individuals in Great Britain. Today, this river is named the River Derwent and ultimately, this bay became the site for Hobart.
Hayes then left Tasmania and managed to reach New Guinea, where he established the first British presence on the island. Unfortunately, although this voyage was commercially successful, the enterprise was ulitimately deemed to costly and risky for the British East India Company to establish a permanent station there.
Finally, the map bears an interesting title, stating that Van Diemen's Land is the southern extremity of New Holland (Australia) reflecting that Bass and Flinders had not discovered the Bass Straits yet and that Tasmania was joined to Australia. SL [AUNZ2751] |