Dutch history to come alive on the harbour
The Australian National Maritime Museum is pleased to announce that following negotiations with the Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation in Western Australia, the museum will take over the ownership and management of the replica Duyfken.
'We are pleased and honoured that the Duyfken Foundation approached us to take over the custodianship of this wonderful Fremantle built vessel, and we are thankful that we are able to provide a safe home for it,' said Kevin Sumption, Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum.
'The replica Duyfken, like the replica HMB Endeavour, is a testament to the skill of Western Australian ship building and craftsmanship. The nation is indebted to them for their generosity, skill and passion'
Captain Willem Janszoon's 1606 arrival on the Duyfken in Cape York is the first known European visit to the continent and predates James Cook by 164 years.
'The Duyfken will be an excellent addition to our fleet – we have an existing infrastructure and a skilled workforce to keep the Duyfken in excellent condition and we look forward to being able to sail it on Sydney Harbour regularly to give all our visitors a new way of both enjoying our harbour and understanding our history. It provides great context to the replica Endeavour. It is a great opportunity to discuss Dutch and other European visits to the continent and of course, more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander narratives. We have learned from our Encounters 2020 program, and will ensure that the Duyfken and its history is interpreted from both the view from the ship as well as the view from the shore.'
'We would like to acknowledge the Duyfken Foundation for all their work in keeping the vessel in excellent condition and actively sailing in WA, and thank them for choosing the Australian National Maritime Museum as its next home.'
The ship is being transported from Fremantle to Newcastle where it will be rigged, before sailing down the coast to be welcomed into the maritime museum fleet this month.
'We are currently working through the timings and logistics for the vessel's arrival in Sydney and will be making announcements in due course as these are locked in but are intending to have it open to the general public early in the New Year,' said Sumption. 'Over the next year we will be rolling out both sailing opportunities on the harbour and new interpretive and educational programs around the vessel that will focus on telling the history from multiple perspectives and through both Dutch and First Peoples' voices.'
