Duyfken Replica proves popular
The 1606 Dutch replica ship Duyfken (Little Dove) has docked in Ballina at Fawcett Park wharf and is proving popular with the kids — and adults as well.
The Duyfken Replica had a smooth crossing of the Richmond River bar on Tuesday morning’s high tide.
Ship’s Master Toby Greenlees says the Duyfken Replica has been contracted by the Australian Government to tour the country and promote some of our earlier history.
Based in Fremantle in Western Australia, the Duyfken has visited major centres such as Hobart and Cairns, and is now on her way to Brisbane.
It is planned that she will leave Ballina on Monday, April 23. For a gold coin donation, people can take a tour of the ship from 9am until 5pm daily.
Toby Greenlees said the Dufyken Replica was built ‘on behalf of people who want to re-touch on a period of Australian history’.
The ship is a sturdy replica; she sailed all the way to Holland for the 400th anniversary of her namesake’s 1606 voyage in which her captain charted the northern Australian coastline — surely the first European to do so.
Duyfken Replica has a crew of 16. The original had a crew of 20, and visitors to the ship will get an idea of what a sturdy lot these 17th century explorers must have been.
In 1606 the Duyfken sailed from the Indonesian island of Banda in search of gold and trade opportunities in Nova Guinea.
Ballina Shire Council community economic development officer Jane Laverty said: “Under the command of Willem Janszoon, Duyfken and her crew ventured south-east.
“They sailed beyond Os Papuas (Papua New Guinea) and explored and charted part of the coast of Nova Guinea.
“They did not find gold — but they did find the northern coast of a huge continent: Australia.
“Captain Janszoon was the first European in history to map and record Australia, so Duyfken’s voyage marks the beginning of Australia’s recorded history.”
PICTURE: The Duyfken Replica docks in Ballina.
