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Image Not Available for Commemorative plate for the bicentenary of the landing of Captain Cook
Commemorative plate for the bicentenary of the landing of Captain Cook
Image Not Available for Commemorative plate for the bicentenary of the landing of Captain Cook

Commemorative plate for the bicentenary of the landing of Captain Cook

Maker
Date1970
Object number00034330
NamePlate
MediumCeramic, paint
DimensionsOverall: 254 x 254 x 22 mm, 0.54 kg
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Greg Paine
DescriptionA commemorative plate for the bicentenary of the arrival of Captain Cook in Australia, manufactured by Wood & Sons. Around the edge of the plate are shown the coat of arms for the states of Australia - Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. In the centre is an image of HMB ENDEAVOUR at sea and a portrait of Cook.HistoryIn 1970 Australia celebrated the bicentenary of Captain Cook's landing at Kurnell. At the other end of Botany Bay, on the site of the old 'Aborigines Protection Board Reserve' at La Perouse, Indigenous Australians staged a ceremony of mourning . . . Indigenous speakers called for Land Rights - Nationally - Now and this call was reported in the newspapers. In addition to the re creation of Cook's landing other events included the arrival of the Royal yacht BRITANNIA in Botany Bay on 29 April 1970 carrying Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne. The Royal family was met by the New South Wales Premier Robin Askin and his wife, and the Governor, Sir Roden Cutler and his wife. SignificanceFor many years, 29 April – the day Cook and the crew of ENDEAVOUR arrived at Botany Bay – was regarded as Australia’s de-facto ‘national day’. So much emphasis was placed on Cook as the ‘correct’ set of British origins over the arrival of a bunch of convicts, that people often confused Cook and Phillip altogether.