Eddystone Point
Eddystone Point lies on the north-east coast of Tasmania, Australia at 40.994 S/148.349 E.
History
The first European to sight Eddystone Point was the Dutch navigator, Abel Tasman. In December 1642, Tasman sailed along the entire east coast of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania)[1]. When the coast veered sharply to the north-west at this point, Tasman tried to follow it. However, the howling westerly funnelling through Banks Strait made this impossible, so the Dutch expedition turned away to the east. [2]
The next European visitor was Tobias Furneaux in HMS Adventure during James Cook's second Pacific voyage. In March 1773, Furneaux retraced Tasman's course up the east coast of the island to discover whether or not it was joined to New Holland. At 2 a.m. on 19 March, the ship was suddenly tossed 40 miles out to sea and lost its sails. Furneaux named headland Eddystone Point, after the notorious Eddystone Rocks in the English Channel. [3]
Seal hunting took place here from at least 1827.[4]
Six applications were made to the colonial government to lease land for whaling stations at Eddystone Point in 1841.[5] It is uncertain how many of these leases were taken up.
Lighthouse
In 1884, the adjacent colonies of Tasmania and Victoria were discussing the erection of a lighthouse at Eddystone Point, which was eventually built.[6] The lighthouse and keepers cottages are made of granite, quarried from nearby.[7] Head of works and head mason was James Galloway from Glasgow, Scotland, who migrated to Tasmania to oversee the building program. His brother, Alexander Galloway also migrated from Glasgow to work on the building of the lighthouse and cottages.
40°59′38″S 148°20′56″E / 40.99389°S 148.34889°E
References
- ^ Schilder, Günter (1976). Australia unveiled : the share of the Dutch navigators in the discovery of Australia. Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ltd. p. 170. ISBN 9022199975.
- ^ Valentyn, Francois (1724–1726). Oud en nieuw Oost-Indien. Dordrecht: J. van Braam. p. vol.3, p.47. ISBN 9789051942347.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) - ^ Cameron-Ash, M. (2018). Lying for the Admiralty. Sydney: Rosenberg. p. 105-106. ISBN 9780648043966.
- ^ Kostoglou, Parry (1996). Sealing in Tasmania historical research project (First ed.). Hobart: Parks and Wildlife Service. p. 76.
- ^ Evans, Kathyrn (1993). Shore-based whaling in Tasmania historical research project; Volume 2; site histories (First ed.). Hobart: Parks and Wildlife Service. p. 66.
- ^ "EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 5 December 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 3 July 2011 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ http://www.lighthouses.org.au/lights/TAS/Eddystone%20Point/Eddystone%20Point.htm#History
External links
John Smeaton A narrative of the building and a description of the construction of the Edystone Lighthouse (1791 and 1793 editions) – Linda Hall Library
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