The Landing of Captain Cook at Botany Bay 1770 Australia
Artist
Percival Trompf
(Australian, 1902 - 1964)
Printer
Posters Ltd Sydney
Date1930s
Object number00016853
NamePoster
MediumFull colour lithographic offset print on paper backed on canvas
DimensionsOverall: 1010 x 1270 mm, 0.2 kg
Copyright© Percy Trompf Artistic Trust
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThe landing of Captain James Cook at Botany Bay on 29 April 1770 has been commemorated in Australian history through songs, plaques, paintings, film and books. This poster consists of a colour lithographic print showing Cook and his men raising a red ensign at Botany Bay, with HMB ENDEAVOUR moored in the bay. This poster was printed in Sydney for the Australian National Travel Association and was an attempt to attract overseas travellers to Australia.HistoryIn an effort to place Australia on the world's tourist map the Australian National Travel Association (ANTA) was created in 1929. They received some funding from the Australian Federal Government and were managed by board members representing Australian businesses and utility companies. As part of their marketing campaign ANTA distributed thousands of travel posters specifically targeting British and American audiences. Some of the most creative poster-artists of the 1930s, including Percival Trompf, James Northfield, Douglas Annand and Gert Sellheim received commissions for their art. By 1934 during the peak period in Australian poster production, ANTA had printed 140,000 posters of which 3,000 were issued overseas.
Percival Trompf was born at Beaufort, Victoria in 1902 and studied at Ballarat Technical Art School. He gained fame for the posters he designed for the Australian National Travel Association and Victorian Railways. His most successful works depicted historical events in Australia's past, such as Cook's landing in 1770. Trompf achieved international recognition by entering poster competitions in London and gaining commissions for work in Canada.
Throughout the 20th century posters have been used as a relatively inexpensive, eye catching and easy way of marketing an idea or product. The primary role of the travel poster was to promote Australia as a tourist destination and generate income for businesses such as railway lines, shops, shipping lines and hotels. Bright and bold depictions of Australia were popular images on posters during the 1930s and are highly sought after today.Significance'The Landing of Captain Cook at Botany Bay' represents the prolific production of travel posters during the 1930s and the commemoration of key events in Australian history, such as the arrival of the British in 1770. This work was one of the most famous posters by internationally recognised Australian artist, Percival Trompf.
