Pecheurs de tripang a la Baie Raffles

Artist Louis Le Breton (1818-1866) (French, 1818 - 1866)

Date1839

Object number00003618

NameLithograph

MediumPaper

DimensionsOverall: 340 × 520 mm, 40 g

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA lithograph, Plate 115, titled 'Pecheurs de tripang a la Baie Raffles' (Tripang Fishermen in Raffles Bay) from the Atlas Pittoresque, Voyage au pole sud et dans l'Oceanie by J. Dumont d'Urville, Vol. 2. The lithograph depicts trepang fishermen at Raffles Bay, Northern Australia as documented by Dumont d'Urville's expedition in 1839. Dessine par Le Breton. Lithograph par E. Lassalle. Gide editeur, Lith Thierry freres, Paris.HistoryNamed by Phillip Parker King in1818 during his survey on the MERMAID, the Bay of Raffles had already long been established as a trading locale for Macassan sailors who arrived annually in December to collect trepang (or sea cucumbers) for trade with China. Local Indigenous Australians were familiar with the Macassan and exchanged other goods such as bees wax, pearl shell and ironwood over the three to four months the sailors were based on the coast. The British had long wanted a settlement on the northern coast both as a strategic claim to territory and as a potential port to capitalise on future trading options. Other European powers were seen as potential threats and in 1824; the first of four attempts was made on Melville Island for a northern British Colony. This first small colony would last just four years before being abandoned and in 1827 Fort Wellington was established at the Bay of Raffles. Like its predecessor Fort Dundas, Fort Wellington was quickly proven a failure and lasted two years before a third attempt at Port Essington was made. While the British departed the Bay of Raffles, Macassan sailors continued to trade in the region until around 1906 - 1907. SignificanceLocated at the eastern end of the Cobourg Peninsula, Raffles Bay was the site of the second abortive attempt at settlement on the northern coastline of Australia. It was named by Phillip Parker King in 1818 after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore.