The Discovery of Australia

Did James Cook discover Australia? If not, who came before him? Was it (apart from the Aboriginals) the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French, other Brits or even the Chinese? Why did they not settle there? What happened to them?

Have you ever heard the story of what happened after the Batavia was shipwrecked in Western Australia in 1629, more shocking than the mutiny on the Bounty?

After this presentation you will know more about all of this than most of your family or friends down under in Oz, e.g., why their national Australia Day celebration every 26thJanuary is on the wrong date.

There will be a break for refreshments (pay in cash on the day £1.15 per cup and 55 pence for a small pack of biscuits) and there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the talk.