Bicentenary of Captain Cook`s ExplorationPrint Page

The monument was erected by the Byron Shire Council to commemorate the bicentenary of Captain James Cook's exploration, charting and claiming of the east coast of Australia for the British Empire in 1770. 

The Bicentenary of James Cook in Australia was commemorated in Autralia in 1970. The British explorer Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook charted the east coast of Australia in 1770, and claimed the eastern seaboard of the continent for the British Crown. It was not considered the official bicentenary of Australia, but rather the bicentenary of the first mapping of the eastern coastline

Captain James Cook sailed northward along this coastline in HMS Endeavour.  Byron Bay was named by Captain James Cook as he sailed up the coast in 1770. Captain Cook named Cape Byron after Vice-Admiral John Byron who was the grandfather of the famous 19th century poet, Lord Byron.

Captain James Cook claimed the whole of the east coast of Australia for Great Britain on 22 August 1770, naming eastern Australia, 'New South Wales.'

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