Teacher resources
Below are a list of texts that would assist in developing teacher knowledge around the historical content area of this unit of work.
Matthew Flinders: personal letters from an extraordinary life
Matthew Flinders: personal letters from an extraordinary life – edited by Paul Brunton. Publisher – Horton House.
This exquisite text provides an insight into the life of one of the world’s greatest navigators. The text is essentially an annotated anthology of Matthew Flinders letters and includes correspondence of both a professional and personal nature.
As a resource, chapter 1 of the text provides a detailed biography of Flinders, and would help in increasing background knowledge prior to the commencement of instruction in this area.
Perhaps more valuable is the annotated letters of Flinders. In particular, page 81 provides an insight into Flinder’s thinking in the naming of significant landmarks of the Western Australian coast, including Cape Leeuwin. The extensive index allows teachers to locate significant local features, and connect these directly to Flinder’s formal correspondence.
This exquisite text provides an insight into the life of one of the world’s greatest navigators. The text is essentially an annotated anthology of Matthew Flinders letters and includes correspondence of both a professional and personal nature.
As a resource, chapter 1 of the text provides a detailed biography of Flinders, and would help in increasing background knowledge prior to the commencement of instruction in this area.
Perhaps more valuable is the annotated letters of Flinders. In particular, page 81 provides an insight into Flinder’s thinking in the naming of significant landmarks of the Western Australian coast, including Cape Leeuwin. The extensive index allows teachers to locate significant local features, and connect these directly to Flinder’s formal correspondence.
Ill-starred Captains: Flinders and Baudin
Ill-starred Captains: Flinders and Baudin – Anthony Brown. Publisher – Fremantle Press.
This text provides an insight into the peculiarly intertwined lives of Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin. Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars, the voyages of Flinders and Baudin (1801-1803) reflected a growing strategic interest of both France and Britain in the western coastline of the Australian continent. A chance meeting of the navigators took place in Encounter Bay (South Australia) in April, 1802. During the meeting, the two captains exchanged gifts and detailed maps.
Between them, Flinders and Baudin mapped and named many of Western Australia’s most significant coastal landmarks. However of particular interest is the recording of significant numbers of interactions with Aboriginal language groups along the southern and western coastlines of Australia.
This text provides an insight into the peculiarly intertwined lives of Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin. Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars, the voyages of Flinders and Baudin (1801-1803) reflected a growing strategic interest of both France and Britain in the western coastline of the Australian continent. A chance meeting of the navigators took place in Encounter Bay (South Australia) in April, 1802. During the meeting, the two captains exchanged gifts and detailed maps.
Between them, Flinders and Baudin mapped and named many of Western Australia’s most significant coastal landmarks. However of particular interest is the recording of significant numbers of interactions with Aboriginal language groups along the southern and western coastlines of Australia.
Voyage of Discovery: Terra Austalis by Willem De Vlamingh in 1696-97
Voyage of Discovery: Terra Austalis by Willem De Vlamingh in 1696-97 – Philip Playford. Publisher – Western Australian Museum.
Playford’s history of De Vlamingh’s voyage begins with a consideration of the motivations of the trip – ostensibly and inquiry into the disappearance of the VOC ship the Ridderschap van Holland in 1694. De Vlamingh’s commission included finding evidence of wrecks, recovering survivors (if any), mapping navigational features, and inquiring as to possible economic interest in the area.
During the voyage, De Vlamingh mapped and named both Rottnest Island, and the Swan River. Indeed his reports of the later were important in subsequent British decisions to establish the Swan River colony.
Alongside a description of the voyage, the text includes numerous maps, and an excellent chapter detailing the history of the Hartog and De Vlamingh plates.
Playford’s history of De Vlamingh’s voyage begins with a consideration of the motivations of the trip – ostensibly and inquiry into the disappearance of the VOC ship the Ridderschap van Holland in 1694. De Vlamingh’s commission included finding evidence of wrecks, recovering survivors (if any), mapping navigational features, and inquiring as to possible economic interest in the area.
During the voyage, De Vlamingh mapped and named both Rottnest Island, and the Swan River. Indeed his reports of the later were important in subsequent British decisions to establish the Swan River colony.
Alongside a description of the voyage, the text includes numerous maps, and an excellent chapter detailing the history of the Hartog and De Vlamingh plates.
Batavia
Batavia – Peter Fitzsimon. Publisher – Random House.
Fitzsimon’s contends that the story of the Batavia is equivalent to “Lord of the Flies meets a Nightmare on Elm Street”. A terrific text for deepening teacher knowledge of the events surrounding the mutiny and wrecking of the Batavia, the work is both accessible and engaging. Reading this book before you visit the Fremantle exhibits is a rare privilege.
The French Explorers and the Aboriginal Australians
The French Explorers and the Aboriginal Australians - Colin Dyer - University of Queensland Press.
Dyer's text investigates a second European perspective of Aboriginal Australia during the period 1772-1839. Dyer uses the logs and communiques of Dufresne (1772), d'Entrecasteaux (1792, and 1793), Baudin (1801-1803), Freychinet (1818-1819) and Duperrey (1824) as source material in considering both the observations and attitudes of French explorers towards a wide variety of Aboriginal peoples. An intriguing chapter of the book (4) considers French observations of Aboriginal people and their expressed attitude towards British explorers and settlers. This latter material provides an interesting third perspective regarding the inquiry questions relating to the impact of British exploration and colonisation on Aboriginal Australians.
Dyer's text investigates a second European perspective of Aboriginal Australia during the period 1772-1839. Dyer uses the logs and communiques of Dufresne (1772), d'Entrecasteaux (1792, and 1793), Baudin (1801-1803), Freychinet (1818-1819) and Duperrey (1824) as source material in considering both the observations and attitudes of French explorers towards a wide variety of Aboriginal peoples. An intriguing chapter of the book (4) considers French observations of Aboriginal people and their expressed attitude towards British explorers and settlers. This latter material provides an interesting third perspective regarding the inquiry questions relating to the impact of British exploration and colonisation on Aboriginal Australians.