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Meeting of Matthew Flinders & Nicolas Baudin Print Page 
The plaque commemorates the meeting of Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders at Encounter Bay in 1802.
The greatest scientific expedition that the world had seen sailed from France in October 1800 with "Le Geographé" under the captaincy of Nicolas Baudin. It coincided with that of Matthew Flinders, who set out from England in Investigator in July, 1801. Both men were charged with the tasks of scientific and geographical exploration. Both were determined to map the Southern continent. Their voyages overlapped and they met in South Australia and both charted several of the same sections of coast, where many features still bear names bestowed by one or other of the expeditions.
The name `Encounter Bay` (given to this water body by Flinders) commemorated the meeting of 8 April 1802.
His Excellency Lord Tennyson unveiled a tablet yesterday set into a granite boulder on the summit of the Bluff onVictor Harbour to commemorate the meeting of Flinders and the French commander Baudin in Encounter Bay exactly 100 years ago. The ceremony was witnessed by a large number of people, including the officials of the Royal Geographical Society.
Examiner (Launceston), 9th April 1902.
Location
| Address: | Rosetta Head, Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor, 5211 |
|---|---|
| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -35.591536 Long: 138.604079 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Landscape |
| Sub-Theme: | Exploration |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 08-April-1802 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 08-April-1802 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Tuesday 8th April, 1902 |
|---|
In commemoration of the meeting near this bluff between H.M.S. Investigator - Matthew Flinders who explored the coast of South Australia, and M.F. "La Geographe" - Nicolas Baudin, April 8 1802
On board the Investigator was John Franklin the Arctic discoverer, the English and French explorers held friendly conference. And Flinders named the place of meeting "Encounter Bay"
Unveiled by His Excellency, Lord Tennyson April 8, 1902
