Flinders and the Investigator

In 1801 Matthew Flinders, aged only 26, was given command of the sloop Investigator. This was to be a voyage of discovery and scientific exploration. The mission was to survey sections of the coastline and investigate the resources along the route. (See Flinders' Sailing Orders and Journal extracts) Inspired by the story of Robinson Crusoe, Flinders had joined the navy as a 15 year old. He sailed with William Bligh to Tahiti, took part in the naval battle the "Glorious First of June", and, prior to the Investigator voyage, spent some time exploring the coasts of New South Wales and Tasmania. In addition to the usual crew, Flinders had with him a number of people to carry out scientific work. Robert Brown, who went on to become a famous botanist, was the naturalist. Peter Good, a gardener, worked with Brown to bring live plants back to England. Ferdinand Bauer produced exquisite paintings of the plants and animals and William Westall drew illustrations of the landscapes. Two Aboriginals, Bongaree and Nanbaree, joined the ship at Port Jackson (Sydney) to help communicate with other indigenous people encountered on the voyage. This bicentenary celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of Matthew Flinders and his team. Despite a rotting boat, shipwreck and imprisonment on Mauritius, theirs is a record of great achievement – in seamanship, in the charting of the coast, in the collecting of vast amounts of scientific information and in ensuring that the work survived and contributed greatly to the understanding of this country, Australia. Portrait of Flinders in 1801 is by an unknown artist and is held by the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.

Last updated 9 October 2006. For more information email admin@rgsq.org.au   Return to home