The Western Australian Museum – Albany will host a series of lectures this week to mark 300 years since the death of explorer William Dampier.

Western Australian Botanist Alex George will present the first of four lectures, William Dampier: Australia’s First Natural Historian from 5.30pm – 7pm, on Wednesday 18 March.  The audience will be taken on one of Dampier’s journeys as he collected and described Australian flora and fauna.  Mr George travelled the same path searching and gathering a plant collection that mirrors the specimens collected by Dampier in 1699.

Sailing the Brig Amity: Life on Board in 1826 by WA Museum Maritime Archaeology Curator Dr Michael (Mack) McCarthy and Maritime Historian Robert Sexton will be held inside the Brig Amity replica from 10am – 11.30am, Thursday 19 March.

Also on Thursday 19 March, Dr McCarthy will present Elusive Phantoms: Finding William Dampier and the Roebuck from 12pm – 1.15pm; and Mr Sexton will finish off the lecture series with Towards New Holland: Their Majesties’ Ship Roebuck and Other Great Exploration Vessels 5.30pm – 7pm.

WA Museum – Albany Regional Manager Rachael Wilsher-Saa said the lectures will bring history to life.

“The Roebuck was one of the most famous and sought-after exploration ships, and it was found by a team led by the WA Museum’s Dr McCarthy almost 300 years after it was shipwrecked,” Ms Wilsher-Saa said.

“It’s fantastic to have Dr McCarthy in Albany detailing its discovery and reveal the adventures of William Dampier alongside Mr George and Mr Sexton.”

For information about the lectures and bookings, visit http://museum.wa.gov.au/museums/albany/william-dampier-tricentennial

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Media contact:

Sharna Craig

Media and Publicity Officer

Western Australian Museum

sharna.craig@museum.wa.gov.au