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The plaque presented in the bicentenary year, commemorates the scientific expeditions of Nicolas Baudin and Louis Freycinet, and other expeditions who landed on the shores of Shark Bay.
Shark Bay was a key destination for European navigators visiting New Holland. William Dampier named the area Sharks Bay in 1699 and a Frenchman, Francois St. Allouarn, laid formal claim to the territory for France in 1772. Later, in 1801, Nicholas Baudin's ship spent fifteen days on Bernier Island collecting many species of wildlife, then mostly unknown to science. This expedition was also the first European contact made with aborigines.
Location
Address: | Hughes Street, Pioneer Park, Denham, 6537 |
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State: | WA |
Area: | AUS |
GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -25.928152 Long: 113.539161 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
Monument Type: | Plaque |
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Monument Theme: | Landscape |
Sub-Theme: | Exploration |
Dedication
Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Saturday 16th July, 1988 |
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FRENCH NAVIGATORS AND SCIENTISTS
WHO LANDED ON THESE SHORES
CAPTAIN SHIP DATE
SAINT ALLOUARN GROSVENTRE 30 MARCH 1772
Louis Francoise
BAUDIN GEOGRAPHE 20 JUNE 1801
Nicolas & CASUARINA 16 MARCH 1805
HAMELIN NATURALISTE 16 JULY 1801
FREYCINET CASUARINA 16 MARCH 1803
Louis Claude & URANIE 12 SEPT 1818
This Plaque Is Offered To The Shark Bay Shire To Celebrate
The Australian Bicentenary In The Presence Of French
& Australian Scientists Commemorating The Scientific
Expeditions Of Nicolas Baudin And Louis Freycinet
Museum Historie Naturelle de Paris
16 JULY 1988