Home » Themes » People » Exploration
Matthew Flinders ExpeditionPrint Page
The memorial commemorates the discovery of Kangaroo Island and the naming of Prospect Hill by Matthew Flinders in 1802.
On 23 March 1802, British explorer Matthew Flinders, commanding HMS Investigator, named the land "Kanguroo" (sic) Island due to the endemic subspecies of the western grey kangaroo, Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus, after landing near Kangaroo Head on the north coast of the Dudley Peninsula. The hill was named Prospect Hill when Matthew Flinders was exploring southern Australia in 1802. He rowed to the end of Pelican Lagoon and walked to the top of the hill to view more of the island.
Location
Address: | Hog Bay Road & Muston Road , Pelican Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, 5222 |
---|---|
State: | SA |
Area: | AUS |
GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -35.843333 Long: 137.753881 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
Monument Type: | Monument |
---|---|
Monument Theme: | People |
Sub-Theme: | Exploration |
Actual Event Start Date: | 21-March-1802 |
Dedication
Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | April-1948 |
---|
Matthew Flinders R.N.
(1774 - 1814)
Commander of H. M. Sloop "Investigator" discovered and on 4 April 1802 named Prospect Hill from which he was the first to sight portion of south coast of Kangaroo Island.
The hidden lagoon at head of Eastern Cove was named Pelican Lagoon on account of the large number of birds and skeletons of that species being seen.
Unveiled Pioneers Day April 1948.