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

WA Museum Maritime Archaeology curator Dr Michael (Mack) McCarthy will present the first of three lectures, Elusive Phantoms: Finding William Dampier and the Roebuck at 2pm, on Sunday 22 March 2015.  He will reveal the adventures of Dampier and describe how Their Majesties’ Ship Roebuck – one of the most famous exploration ships – was found.

Also on Sunday 22 March, maritime historian Robert Sexton will present Towards New Holland: Their Majesties’ Ship Roebuck and Other Great Exploration Vessels at 3.30pm.

The final lecture by Western Australian botanist Alex George, William Dampier: Australia’s First Natural Historian, will be held at 10am on Monday 23 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.

WA Museum – Geraldton Regional Manager Leigh O’Brien 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 O’Brien said.

“It’s fantastic to have Dr McCarthy back in Geraldton to tell the story of 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/whats-on/geraldton

The Dampier 2015 Public Lectures are supported by the WA Museum Foundation.

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Media contact:

Sharna Craig

Media and Publicity Officer

Western Australian Museum

sharna.craig@museum.wa.gov.au