Boat Camp of HMS CRUIZER, Swan River
Artist
Captain William Alexander Willis RN
(1799 - 1862)
Date1830
Object number00015638
NameDrawing
MediumPen, watercolour Ink on paper
DimensionsOverall: 294 x 423 mm, 0.05 kg
Image: 251 x 400 mm
Image: 251 x 400 mm
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA pen and wash drawing titled 'Boat Camp of HMS CRUIZER, Swan River 1830' by Captain William Alexander Willis Royal Navy. The picture depicts a temporary camp of tents with one sailor hanging a recent catch, others by the fire and a group of local Indigenous people looking on.HistoryCaptain William Willis (1799-1862) joined the Navy in 1811 was promoted to Lieutenant in 1824, Commander in 1835 and Captain in March 1844. The HMS CRUZIER was an 18 gun brig-sloop and launched in 1828. At sea from 4th November 1828 until 12th May 1831 under the command of Commander JEG Colpoys it was at sea in the East Indies based in Ceylon and arrived at the Swan River colony on 17th January 1830 where it stayed until December. It seems probable that HMS CRUZIER was sent to Western Australia to assist HMS SUCCESS in the charting of the Western Australian coastline after the SUCCESS had run aground on Carnac Island on 28th November1829 and was under repairs for over a year.
The Royal Navy played a significant part in establishing most of the major British settlements including that at the Swan River in Western Australia.
In 1827 Captain James Stirling RN instigated settlement in the south west by representations to Governor Darling and later to the British Government in 1828 that a colony on the Swan River was urgently needed.
As a direct result Captain Charles Fremantle RN was despatched to claim the land as a British Crown colon in May 1829.
SignificanceThius drawing is an extremely rare representation of Royal Naval activity in Western Australia in the 19th century. and shows the Royal Navys central role in establishing a European settlement in Western Australia. 
