Fix this text
ROTTNEST ISLAND
Fix this textSome Historical Notes
Fix this textFrom old Dutch documents in the archives of The Hague it appears
Fix this textthat Samuel Volkersen, in command of the galiot Waekende Boeij
Fix this text(Watching Boy) was the first European, and more than likely the
Fix this textfirst man, to set foot on Rottnest. Volkersen had come to the Western
Fix this textCoast of the Great South Land as it was then known, in search of
Fix this text"de Vergulden Draeg" (The Golden Dragon), one of the many ships
Fix this textwhich had come to a sticky end in the completely unchartered, and
Fix this textconsequently, dangerous, Western waters. Wreckage of the Golden
Fix this textDragon was found on the beaches of Rottnest some 80 miles south of
Fix this textthe place where the richly laden ship was destroyed. The Steersman
Fix this textin charge of the landing party, which Volkersen had sent to search
Fix this textfor survivors or wreckage on the Island, was one Abraham Leeman
Fix this textVan Santwigh and Volkersen's log establishes beyond doubt that he
Fix this textand his boat's crew of 13 were the first men to land on Rottnest, the
Fix this textdate being 20th March, 1658. However, Volkersen was a humble
Fix this textman and was unwilling to name the Island.
Fix this textThe next European to land on Rottnest was Willem de Vlaming.
Fix this textHe had been sent out from the Cape of Good Hope by the Governor-
Fix this textGeneral of the Council of India to search for the ship Ridderschap Van
Fix this textHollaad (The Knighthood of Holland) which was lost between Cape
Fix this textof Good Hope and Batavia in 1685. He landed on Rottnest on the 30th
Fix this textDecember, 1696 in what is now called Salmon or Porpoise Bay, in
Fix this textthe Southeast Sector of the Island. On the Ist and 3rd January, 1697
Fix this textmany fires were observed on the mainland by Vlaming's crew. On
Fix this textthe 4th Vlaming set sail for the mainland and at dawn on the sth
Fix this textJanuary, 1697 he landed, it would seem, on Cottesloe Beach with
Fix this text88 men, including 2 African negroes.
Fix this textWhen Vlaming visited Rottnest he had just finished a long voyage
Fix this textin the stormy Southern Latitudes during which he had visited the
Fix this textbitterly cold and inhospitable island of Tristan d'Acunha, St. Paul
Fix this textand New Amsterdam, consequently when writing on Rottnest about
Fix this textDecember in the Mediterranean Summer of Rottnest it is little wonder
Fix this textthat he waxed lyrical. He wrote . . . "On the way I felt great pleasure
Fix this textin admiring the island, which is a very pleasant place. Here it seems
Fix this textnature has spared nothing to render this island beautiful above all
Fix this textothers that I have ever seen ... a terrestrial paradise . . ."
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
With your Trove account you can:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2685781662
(19--]). Rottnest Island : some historical notes Retrieved March 25, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2685781662
Rottnest Island : some historical notes [Western Australia: , 19--]. Web. 25 March 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2685781662>
19--], Rottnest Island : some historical notes , [Western Australia viewed 25 March 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2685781662
{{Citation
|
| title=Rottnest Island : some historical notes.
| year=19--]
| section=1 folded sheet ([4] p.) ; 24 cm.
| location=[Western Australia
| publisher=
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2685781662
| id=nla.obj-2685781662
| access-date=25 March 2025
| via=Trove
}}
Citations are automatically generated and may require some modification to conform to exact standards.
Select the images you want to download, or the whole document.
You can order a copy of this work from Copies Direct.
Copies Direct supplies reproductions of collection material for a fee. This service is offered by the National Library of Australia
In Copyright
You may order a copy or use the online copy for research or study; for other uses Contact us.
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply.
For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
Copy and paste one of these options to share this book elsewhere.