Staten Landt
Artist
Geoffrey Chapman Ingleton
(Australian, 1908 - 1998)
Date1930s
Object number00004839
NameEtching
MediumInk on paper, frame
DimensionsOverall: 435 x 582 mm, 1.25 kg
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis etching entitled Staten Landt by Geoffrey Ingleton depicts Able Janszoon Tasman's ships the HEEMSKERCK and the ZEEHAEN having sighted New Zealand and mistaking it for Staten Landt (Staten Island, Argentina).HistoryThe VOC (or Dutch East India Company) played an early role in European exploration of Australasia. In the interests of sourcing potential trade opportunities and to compile reliable charts and maps, the VOC were the first Europeans on record to land on Australian shores and chart the continent's northern and western coasts from 1606 onwards. The VOC significantly contributed to New Holland's (later called Australia) delineation on the world map.
Abel Tasman (1606 - 1659) was a Dutch seafarer, explorer and merchant. He is best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of the Dutch East India Company, during which time his expeditioners became the first known Europeans to reach the islands of Van Diemen's Land and New Zealand. In 1643 he also became the first European to sight the Fiji Islands. Tasman's expeditions produced important charts of parts of Van Diemen's Land, New Zealand and some Pacific Islands.
In August 1642 Tasman left Batavia in command of the VOC ships ZEEHAEN and HEEMSKERCK. Both vessels had been built in 1639 in the companies shipyards in Amsterdam. An expedition to explore the unknown southern oceans had been in the VOC's plans for some time, and as a respected navigator and skipper, Tasman was a logical choice for the command.
Once Tasman reached Van Diemen's Land, he followed the coastline until the winds made it difficult to continue. He sailed east across the Tasman Sea, and on 13 December the expedition sighted land on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Tasman referred to this new land as 'Staten Landt' wrongly believing it to be connected to Isla de los Estados (Staten Island) off the southern tip of South America.
Tasman then proceeded north and then east and it was here that one of his ships was attacked by a group of Maori. Four of Tasman's crew were killed in the confrontation, earning the bay the title of Murderers Bay - now called Golden Bay. Nevertheless, the expedition went on, and Tasman explored Tonga and Fiji, and returned to Batavia on 15 June 1643.
From the Dutch East India Company's perspective, Tasman's 1642 expedition had failed to locate any useful new trade areas and for over a century, until the voyages of James Cook, Tasmania and New Zealand were not visited by Europeans.
SignificanceGeoffrey Ingleton completed numerous etchings depicting famous events relating to Australian maritime history. In this work he celebrates the achievements of Abel Janszoon Tasman. Tasman was the first European to chart part of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji on an epic voyage from 1642 to 1643.