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Matthew FlindersPrint Page Print this page

05-April-2014
05-April-2014

Photographs supplied by Chris McLaughlin

The cairn commemorates English navigator Matthew Flinders.  It is near the spot where he spent the night in March 1802. 

Location

Address:Edinburgh Terrace & Whiting Parade, Alan McLellan Lookout, Port Augusta, 5710
State:SA
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -32.514236
Long: 137.779745
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Exploration
Actual Event Start Date:10-March-1802
Actual Event End Date:10-March-1802

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Friday 26th May, 1967
Front Inscription

Matthew Flinders R.N.
1774 - 1814

As Commander of H.M. Sloop ‘Investigator’ on a voyage to Terra Australia discovered, surveyed and named Spencer`s Gulf, in 1802.  Point Lowey, Curlew Point, Mount Brown and Arden were named by him.

Between the most northerly anchorage and the head of the gulf, five exploratory landings were made from the ships cutter, by Captain Flinders, accompanied by Surgeon Hugh Bell, and Boat Party.  

They spent the night of Wednesday, March 10, 1802, ashore near this spot, as described by Flinders’ Journal:
“…….our distance above the ship was not so much as five leagues in a straight line, when the setting sun reminded us of looking out for a place of rest.   A landing was effected with some difficulty amongst the mangroves on the eastern shore, and from a small eminence of red earth, I saw the ship`s mast heads at S 14  E Mount Brown N 85 E

Next morning we continued the examination upwards; .... but at ten o`clock our oars touched the mud on each side and it was not possible to proceed further."

This monument was erected in 1967 as a memorial to the great navigator and explorer, and to mark this historic landing place where the first Europeans slept ashore on this portion of the coast of South Australia.
It is set on that ‘small eminance of red earth.”

Erected by the Corporation of the City of Port Augusta

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au