Marking the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s first voyage to Australia and the Pacific, the Australian government will provide an additional $6.7 million to the Australian National Maritime Museum so its replica of Captain Cook’s ‘HMB Endeavour’ can circumnavigate the country, hosting a series of events and activities at each of its proposed 39 stops. The fund will be in addition to the $5.45 million to support projects for the Cooktown 2020 Festival.
The circumnavigation will be funded from the Government’s existing $48.7 million package to mark the anniversary that includes exhibitions through the National Library of Australia, support for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies to preserve and celebrate Indigenous culture and assistance for the NSW Government to deliver the Kamay Botany Bay National Park Master Plan.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the events would offer new generations an insight into Captain Cook, the Endeavour and the experiences of Indigenous Australians.
As the 250th anniversary nears we want to help Australians better understand Captain Cook’s historic voyage and its legacy for exploration, science and reconciliation,
…the Prime Minister said.
The Government’s $5.45 million investment in projects for the Cooktown 2020 Festival includes development of the Reconciliation Rocks Precinct, the Botanic Gardens and upgrades to the Gamaay Dreaming Track to not only commemorate the anniversary and local Indigenous culture, but provide a lasting economic contribution to Cooktown.
It will also support the Waymburr Milbi project to house artefacts used for the annual re-enactment of the story of Australia’s first act of reconciliation told by the Guugu Yimithirr people on the banks of the Endeavour River.
Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield said the Government’s investment in the replica Endeavour’s circumnavigation would be managed sensitively, and will present both the view from the ship and the view from the shore of Cook’s historic voyage.
The HMB Endeavour replica will set sail from Sydney in March 2020, and head south to Hobart before turning north to commence a full circumnavigation of mainland Australia.
Construction of the Australian-built replica commenced in 1988 and, since undertaking its maiden voyage in 1994, the vessel has enabled hundreds of thousands of visitors to experience how Captain Cook and his shipmates lived.
The HMB Endeavour replica is expected to make the following stops:
- Northern Territory – Darwin, Yirrakala
- New South Wales – Botany Bay, Coffs Harbour, Eden, Jervis Bay, Newcastle, Sydney
- Queensland – Aurukun, Brisbane, Cairns, Cooktown, Gladstone, Hamilton Island, Lizard Island, Mackay, Possession Island, Seventeen Seventy, Thursday Island, Townsville, Weipa, Yarrabah
- South Australia – Port Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Whyalla
- Tasmania – Hobart
- Victoria – Geelong, Melbourne, Portland, Williamstown
- Western Australia – Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Carnarvon, Esperance, Fremantle, Geraldton, Port Hedland
The Australian National Maritime Museum will host a series of events and activities at each stop the HMB Endeavour replica makes throughout its March 2020 to May 2021 voyage.
