Maritime Archaeology WebsitesWestern Australia has a rich maritime history, which particularly kicked off with the arrival of Dirk Hartog in 1616. Since then, stories of triumph, hardship and heartache abound. The Western Australian Museum has a strong commitment to researching these stories, and has collated many of them in one place – on this page. Discover life in the early days of Australia through the eyes of shipwrecked sailors, struggling entrepreneurs and gutsy explorers.