06/04/2005 - The story
of the ship that led the First Fleet into
Sydney Cove in 1788 is to be vividly portrayed
as a result of funding announced today by
the Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell.
The Minister said that $10,000 would be given
to the Norfolk Island Museum through the Australian
Government's Historic Shipwrecks Programme
to enhance its HMS Sirius exhibition located
in the heritage-listed Kingston and Arthur's
Vale Historic Area.
"The role of the HMS Sirius in Australia's
settlement history is pivotal," Senator
Campbell said.
"Although it was only 30 metres long,
this frigate, under the command of Captain
Arthur Phillip, led a fleet of 11 ships carrying
1350 convicts, sailors and other passengers,
to establish the first settlement in Australia.
"It was a monumental journey taking
eight months to complete, but it was successful
in its mission. Two years later, when the
fledgling colony of New South Wales was struggling
to support itself, The Sirius and the HMS
Supply were sent on a special voyage to transport
marines and convicts to Norfolk Island to
lessen the burden on the new settlement.
"It was here that the Sirius foundered
when it struck a reef off Sydney Bay (Kingston)
on Norfolk Island and was finally wrecked.
"In recent years the Sirius has been
the focus of one of Australia's most intensive
and successful maritime archaeological investigations.
Many artefacts have been retrieved from the
wreck, some of which can now be seen by the
public at the Norfolk Island Museum."
Senator Campbell said that the funding under
the Historic Shipwrecks Programme would enable
the island's museum to collaborate with a
major Australian museum to help develop a
professional multi-media exhibition design
for the HMS Sirius exhibition.
He said this venture was one of 40 shipwreck-related
projects being funded through this programme.
Under the Historic Shipwrecks Programme ,
the Australian Government funds its state
and territory partners to help protect, preserve,
research and inform about some of the nation's
6500 shipwrecks and related materials.
"Every shipwreck is a watery timecapsule
with a story waiting to be told," Senator
Campbell said.
"Through investigation, research and
interpretation we can see into our past and
discover more about our history particularly
in areas such as trade, defence and migration."
A total of $11,500 will be given to two Norfolk
Island shipwreck-related projects as part
of the Australian Government programme.
