On Friday 9 September, the Western Australian Museum will launch an innovative and interactive digital experience, which brings together almost 400 years of one of Australia’s most notorious events – the wreck of the ship, Batavia, in 1629.

The Batavia 1629: National Heritage Listed Place Guide is the first interactive e-book produced by the Western Australian Museum.

The coast of Western Australia has seen hundreds of shipwrecks over centuries, but there is none more notorious than the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) or Dutch East India Company ship Batavia which wrecked on Morning Reef in the Houtman Abrolhos Islands on 4 June 1629.

The Batavia 1629 e-book takes readers on Batavia’s first and final voyage, its wrecking at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, and the aftermath of mutiny and massacre in which more than 100 shipwreck survivors were murdered by mutineers led by Jeronimous Cornelisz.

Western Australian Museum Head of Culture and Communities, Catherine Belcher said the immersive platform also gives readers a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the Museum’s fieldwork and research.

“It utilises rarely seen historic photography from the Maritime Heritage collections, 3D models, animations and audio-visual content, to re-interpret and re-present the extraordinary stories of Batavia to new audiences.” said Ms Belcher.

An essential experience for anyone interested in the Abrolhos Islands National Park, Batavia 1629 reviews and explains the archaeological evidence collected by the Museum from more than 20 expeditions and recent research and discoveries.

Readers can explore the stories that interest them, in the way they want, thanks to the interactive content pages and innovative e-book format design by designer and photographer Ian Brodie.

Western Australian Museum Chief Executive Officer, Alec Coles said the Batavia wreck site and survivor camps were listed on the National Heritage List (NHL) in 2006 which recognises and protects natural, historic and Indigenous heritage places that have outstanding significance to the nation.

“For more than 50 years, the Museum has undertaken maritime archaeological work in the Wallabi Group of the Abrolhos Islands to understand, protect, conserve and share these sites, which include the underwater wreck and related survivor sites,”

“The historic, significance of the Batavia sites is extraordinary, and represents some of the earliest European contact with Australia. This e-book will help people better understand the Batavia story, and the importance of protecting this evidence.” said Mr Coles.

Travellers to the Abrolhos will be able to download the e-book ahead of their trip to gain new insight into the Batavia NHL story and gain a deeper appreciation for the protection and preservation of the sites for future generations, but you do not have to visit the site to enjoy the content of the e-book.

The Batavia 1629: National Heritage Listed Place Guide has been supported through funding from the Australian Government and will be a free, downloadable e-book available from the Museum’s website following the launch on Friday 9 September 2022.

https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/batavia-ebook

 

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