Establissement Anglais a Port Essington (English establishment at Port Essington)

Artist Ernest Goupil (French, 1814 - 1840)

Date1839

Object number00003617

NameLithograph

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 506 mm, 0.35 kg
Display Dimensions: 550 x 745 x 50 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA lithograph, Plate 119, titled 'Establissement Anglais a Port Essington' (English establishment at Port Essington) from the Atlas Pittoresque, Voyage au pole sud et dans l'Oceanie by J. Dumont d'Urville, Vol. 2. The lithograph depicts the British settlement of Port Essington, Northern Australia, on the visit Dumont d'Urville's expedition in 1839. Dessine par Goupil, Lithograph par Emile Lassalle. Gide, editeur. Lith de Thierry Freres, Paris.HistoryDespite the picturesque depiction by Ernest Goupil, the British settlement at Port Essington was another failed attempt to establish a colony in northern Australia. Plagued by its remote location and lack of facilities, the region highlighted the lack of understanding the British had about the challenging environment they found themselves. Settled in October 1838 by a small group of marines and their families, Port Essington struggled from the outset. The following year a cyclone laid waste to many of the poor quality buildings and over the years, many inhabitants died of disease. The anticipated trade with Asia failed to materialise and in 1849 all pretence that the settlement could operate even as a naval outpost was abandoned and the remaining residents left.