Captain James Cook`s Landing PlacePrint Page 
Captain Cook`s Landing Place is the site where Captain James Cook first stepped onto the Australian continent. A commemorative obelisk stands opposite the rock where he is believed to have landed with his crew. A plaque also commemorates the 200th anniversary of Cook`s landing and historical re-enactment.
The site has a series of monuments to Cook and his companions, dating back to 1822, which are of historical significance in themselves. The site includes: a water course believed to be that from which Captain Cook obtained water; a monument erected in 1822 at Inscription Point; an obelisk of 1870; monument to Forby Sutherland, the first British subject to die in Australia; monuments to Dr Solander and to Joseph Banks.
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.'
Location
| Address: | Prince Charles Parade & Captain Cook Drive, Monument Track, Kurnell, 2231 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.004667 Long: 151.217556 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Landscape |
| Sub-Theme: | Exploration |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 28-April-1770 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 28-April-1770 |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | 1870 |
|---|
CAPTAIN COOK
Landed Here
28th April, A.D.1770
This Monument
Was Erected A.D. 1870,
By The Honourable Thomas Holt M.L.C.
Victoria Regina. The Earl of Belmore, Governor &c
EXTRACT FROM CAPTAIN COOK`S JOURNAL
Saturday 28th April, A.D.1770.
At daybreak we discovered a bay,
and anchored under the south shore,
about two miles within the entrance in
sixth fathom water: the south point bearing
S.E, and the north point East.
Latitude 34ºS Longitude 208º.37 W
THE LANDING PLACE OF
CAPTAIN COOK
April 28th, 1770.
The following brief extracts relating to
the Landing of Captain Cook and his party
on the rock opposite this tablet are taken
from the original MS Journal of Sir Joseph
Banks, in the Mitchell Library, Sydney :
The journal records that —
The natives resolutely disputed the landing "although they were but two, and we thirty or forty at least." Parleying with these
two continued for about a quarter of an hour. "They remained resolute, so a musket was fired over them, the effect of which was that the youngest of the two dropped a bundle of lances on the rock....
He, however, snatched them up again and both renewed their threats and opposition. A musket loaded with small shot was now fired at the oldest of the two who was about 40 yards from the boat, it struck him on the legs but he minded it very little, so another was immediately fired at him, on this he ran up to the house about 100 yards distant and soon returned with a shield. In the meantime we had landed on the rock."
Several "lances" were immediately thrown
and fell among the party. This caused two
further discharges of small shot, when, after
throwing another lance, the natives fled.
This Plaque Commemorates The
200th Anniversary Of The Landing
Of Captain James Cook
And The Re-Enactment Of This Historic Event
In The Presence Of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
His Royal Highness The Duke Of Edinburgh
And Her Royal Highness Princess Anne
29th April, 1970
