Introduction

The Dutch arrival in Western Australia four hundred years ago is one chapter in a very long history of travel and trade across the Indian Ocean.

This exhibition explores not only why the Dutch came to Australia, but the many of the other journeys that have occurred around this vast body of water for millennia. Starting with the Hartog dish, these stories are told through objects and paintings from different parts of the world. Some of these objects have never been seen in Australia before.

They introduce the rich history of the ocean that Western Australia faces – the ocean that has shaped Western Australia and will continue to shape our state in the future.

Please note:
This exhibition uses the terms BCE, CE and BP.
BCE means before the Common Era, it covers the same time range as BC.
CE means the Common Era, it covers the same time range as AD.
BP or Before Present means before 1950 and is a time scale used by archaeologists to reflect radiocarbon dating.