Clandestine missions. Military garrisons. Fears of invasion. All essential ingredients in the making of a colony on the western shores of Terra Australis. But just how did these ingredients come together? The answer is quite fascinating, and it spans over four hundred years.
The first European to visit the shores of Western Australia was the Dutch explorer, Dirk Hartog, in 1616. But it would be over 200 years before the Europeans finally settled on the Western shores of Australia. On 26 December 1896, Major Edmund Lockyer landed at King George III Sound, present-day Albany. There he established a convict-supported military garrison to defend against potential French landings in the area. The British did not want the French establishing a colony at this important coastal region. The French never came, and less than a month later, on 21 January 1827, Lockyer formally took possession of the entire western third of the continent of Australia for the British Crown.
Not long after this, Captain James Sterling sailed to Australia on the HMS Success. His mission was twofold. On the surface he delivered supplies and coinage to Australia. But his other, more clandestine, mission was to gauge the interest other nations may have in Australian territories. He was also told to be on the lookout for potential British settlements. Once he arrived on Australian soil, he sailed up the Swan River. While on this journey of reconnaissance, he found a nice spot he thought would make an ideal colony. He sailed back to England to report what he had discovered. On 20 December 1828, after officially lobbying to establish a settlement on the Swan River, he was made Lieutenant-Governor of the colony-to-be.
Despite the whole idea being his, Stirling was not the man to declare Swan River an official colony of Britain. That honour fell on the shoulders of Captain James Fremantle. He arrived at Swan River on his ship HMS Challenger on 25 April 1829, and on 2 May, Fremantle declared the Swan River a British colony..
Governor Stirling arrived later that month on the 31st aboard Parmelia. Then on 18 June, Stirling renamed the area he had envisaged as the perfect administrative town for the new colony, Perth. Perth to this day remains the capital of Western Australia.
On 28 September 1929 Australia issued a stamp to commemorate the centenary of Western Australia. The stamp was designed by Mr. G. Pitt Morison, who was the curator of the National Gallery, Perth.
The main feature of the design is the famous black swan, the emblem of the state of Western Australia. There are also a couple of other key features, which really make this design stand out. Kangaroo paw flowers adorn the top corners of the stamp, while .eucalyptus leaves and flowers have been discreetly placed adjacent to each 1½d value tablet. All in all a rather eye-catching stamp!
Until next time....
The first European to visit the shores of Western Australia was the Dutch explorer, Dirk Hartog, in 1616. But it would be over 200 years before the Europeans finally settled on the Western shores of Australia. On 26 December 1896, Major Edmund Lockyer landed at King George III Sound, present-day Albany. There he established a convict-supported military garrison to defend against potential French landings in the area. The British did not want the French establishing a colony at this important coastal region. The French never came, and less than a month later, on 21 January 1827, Lockyer formally took possession of the entire western third of the continent of Australia for the British Crown.
Not long after this, Captain James Sterling sailed to Australia on the HMS Success. His mission was twofold. On the surface he delivered supplies and coinage to Australia. But his other, more clandestine, mission was to gauge the interest other nations may have in Australian territories. He was also told to be on the lookout for potential British settlements. Once he arrived on Australian soil, he sailed up the Swan River. While on this journey of reconnaissance, he found a nice spot he thought would make an ideal colony. He sailed back to England to report what he had discovered. On 20 December 1828, after officially lobbying to establish a settlement on the Swan River, he was made Lieutenant-Governor of the colony-to-be.
Despite the whole idea being his, Stirling was not the man to declare Swan River an official colony of Britain. That honour fell on the shoulders of Captain James Fremantle. He arrived at Swan River on his ship HMS Challenger on 25 April 1829, and on 2 May, Fremantle declared the Swan River a British colony..
Governor Stirling arrived later that month on the 31st aboard Parmelia. Then on 18 June, Stirling renamed the area he had envisaged as the perfect administrative town for the new colony, Perth. Perth to this day remains the capital of Western Australia.
***
On 28 September 1929 Australia issued a stamp to commemorate the centenary of Western Australia. The stamp was designed by Mr. G. Pitt Morison, who was the curator of the National Gallery, Perth.
The main feature of the design is the famous black swan, the emblem of the state of Western Australia. There are also a couple of other key features, which really make this design stand out. Kangaroo paw flowers adorn the top corners of the stamp, while .eucalyptus leaves and flowers have been discreetly placed adjacent to each 1½d value tablet. All in all a rather eye-catching stamp!
***
This wasn't the first time a swan was depicted on a stamp. During the colonial period, Western Australia issued many lovely swan stamps. Here's one from 1854 - Australia's own Penny Black.
Until next time....
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