Shipwreck Databases Western Australian Museum

Vianen

This incident was not a wreck, the vessel went aground and managed to get free by releasing some cargo. It was one of the early sightings of the “Southland” and was unusual because the ship was on its way from and not to Java. There is an interesting mention of the episode in the advice given to Tasman before his journeys in 1644. It states that the Vianen had gone along the coast of the Southland for about 50 miles. It also describes the result of that close contact as ‘...none of these discoveries however resulting in the obtaining of any considerable information respecting the situation and condition of this vast land, it only having been found that it has barren and dangerous coasts, green fertile fields and exceedingly savage black barbarian inhabitants.” This allusion to the hostility of the black inhabitants could suggest that either the Vianen or other VOC ships may have had contact experiences ashore on the Southland.

Contact Evidence Possible

Type of contact Unknown

Year 1628

Nationality Dutch

Location near Barrow Island

Source European