Mapping Australian history and culture
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| Name | Humanitarians in the Antipodes: Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River |
|---|---|
| Description | A visualisation of the investigative tours of British Quakers, James Backhouse and George Washington Walker, who were 'travelling under concern' in the Southern oceans in 1830s. This section relates to visits to King Georges Sound and Swan River. |
| Type | Journey |
| Content Warning | |
| Contributor | Heidi Ing |
| Entries | 11 |
| Allow ANPS? | No |
| Added to System | 2024-06-27 21:56:24 |
| Updated in System | 2024-06-27 21:56:54 |
| Subject | colonialism, religious society of friends, quakers, colonial history, james backhouse, george washington walker, transnational human rights activism |
|---|---|
| Creator | Penny Edmonds |
| Publisher | |
| Contact | penny.edmonds@flinders.edu.au |
| Citation | |
| DOI | |
| Source URL | https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634 |
| Linkback | |
| Date From | 1837-12-17 |
| Date To | 1837-12-30 |
| Image |
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| Latitude From | |
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| Longitude From | |
| Latitude To | |
| Longitude To | |
| Language | English |
| License | |
| Usage Rights | |
| Date Created (externally) |
On the morning of 17 December 1837 the Eudora 'left the Gambier and Thistle Islands in Spencers Gulf, to the northward, and one of the Neptune Islands, to the southward'. Backhouse reported that seals, mutton birds and terns were numerous on Neptune island.
- Placename
- Neptune Islands, South Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 523
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
The Eudora made 224 miles, between the noon of 17 December 1837 and the following day, and Backhouse reported that they 'were out of sight of land.
- Placename
- Great Australian Bight, Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 523
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
The Eudora passed Bald Island and 'soon got sight of Mount Gardener and Bald Head', passing between them to sail into King Georges Sound, which Backhouse described as 'a fine bay, surrounded by hills, with an opening into an inner harbour, called Princess Royal Harbour, near the entrance', where the Eudora anchored.
- Placename
- Mount Gardener, Western Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 523
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
At Albany, Backhouse and Walker were 'guests of George Cheyne' and 'his open-hearted wife' gave them 'a kind welcome'. Backhouse reported that although Albany was 'laid out as a town upon some maps', it had a small population and consisted of only 'a few, scattered cottages' with no baker's shop but 'four public-houses'.
- Placename
- Albany, Western Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- People
- George Cheyne
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 523
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
Backhouse & Walker called on the Government Resident, Sir Richard Spencer who received them kindly and made many inquiries for intellidence, which everyone in this sequestered spot seemed desirous of receiving'.
- Placename
- Strawberry Hill Farm, Albany, Western Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- People
- Sir Richard Spencer
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 524
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
Backhouse & Walker interviewed a 'magistrate from Oyster Harbour' regarding the Aboriginal people of the immediate district, commonly known 'by the designation of the King George tribe'. These peoplere were reported to be 'about fifty in number' and to 'live on good terms with the European inhabitants' of the area.
- Placename
- Oyster Harbour, Western Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- People
- Aboriginal people
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 525
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
Before leaving Albany Backhouse & Walker 'breakfasted with Sir Richard and Lady Spencer, and walked with them, over their fine garden, and little farm', which were 'on one of the little patches of good land'. Backhouse reported that in the garden, 'Grapes, Figs, Almonds, Peas, Potatoes, &c. are very thriving' and on the farm there was 'a good crop of Wheat, where the land has been manured'.
- Placename
- Strawberry Hill Farm, Albany, Western Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 526
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
After leaving King Georges Sound on 27 December 1837 on board the Alice, they 'made good progress' to 'get nicely to sea again', passing Vancouvers Reef and Eclipse Island to sail past White Topped Rocks that night.
- Placename
- Eclipse Island, Western Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- Objects
- Alice
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 528
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- Objects
- Alice
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 528
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
Backhouse described the town of Freemantle as having a population of about 200, and as 'situated behind a little promontory of limestone, at the mouth of an estuary, called Melville Water' with limestone houses which were 'going to decay' in 'consequence of the seat of Government having been removed to Perth'.
- Placename
- Fremantle Harbour, Western Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, pp. 529-530
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
Sources
In Perth, Backhouse & Walker were welcomed by Major Irwin. They were escorted to call on the Governor and Lady Stirling who received them kindly, and were introduced to the Colonial Chaplain. They lodged in Perth 'in the homely dwelling of the widow of a Colonial Surgeon'.
- Placename
- Stirling Gardens, Perth, Western Australia
- Type
- Other
Details
Description
Extended Data
- Journey_Title
- Voyage to King Georges Sound and Swan River
- People
- Governor and Lady Stirling
- Source
- Backhouse, Narrative of a Visit, p. 530
- Link
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371634
