Senior Library Books
Resource Key
LEVEL 1
brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)
LEVEL 2
provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.
LEVEL 3
lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)
Databases
- JSTOR This link opens in a new windowScholarly resources on JSTOR include Archival and Current Journals, Books, and Primary Sources.
- Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus This link opens in a new windowThis resource provides the largest collection of full text from leading regional and international newspapers and periodicals, full-text reference books, tens of thousands of full-text biographies, and a collection of images containing more than one million photos, maps, and flags.
- Britannica Schools This link opens in a new windowBritannica School covers the core subject areas of English, Maths, Science and History. Interactive lessons, activities, games, stories, worksheets, manipulatives, study guides and research tools.
Key Words
- Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) It stands for Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (United East Indies Company). It was formed in the Netherlands in 1602 with the aim of sending ships to East Asia to buy pepper, cinnamon and other spices and trade them on European markets. The VOC grew rapidly to become a multi-national company with trading forts in southern Africa and all over Asia. Halfway through the 18th century, the VOC employed 25,000 persons, 3,000 in the Netherlands. The VOC built its own ships, a total of 1500, which together made 5000 journeys to Asia. They established a network of trading posts stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Chinese Sea.
- United East Indies Company (UEIC) It stands for Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (United East Indies Company). It was formed in the Netherlands in 1602 with the aim of sending ships to East Asia to buy pepper, cinnamon and other spices and trade them on European markets. The VOC grew rapidly to become a multi-national company with trading forts in southern Africa and all over Asia. Halfway through the 18th century, the VOC employed 25,000 persons, 3,000 in the Netherlands. The VOC built its own ships, a total of 1500, which together made 5000 journeys to Asia. They established a network of trading posts stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Chinese Sea.
- maritime connected with the sea in relation to navigation, shipping, etc.
- Francisco Pelsaert Captain of Batavia and one of the VOC's most experienced merchants,
- Jeronimus Cornelisz Jeronimus Cornelisz (1598 – October 2, 1629) was a Dutch East India Company (VOC) merchant. In June 1629 he led one of the bloodiest mutinies in history.
- mutiny revolt or rebellion against constituted authority, especially by sailors against their officers.
- magnetometer Marine magnetometers detect variations in the Earth's total magnetic field. These variations may be caused by the presence of ferrous material on or under the seabed, geological features or diurnal variations in the Earth's magnetic field due to solar activity. Marine magnetic surveying has become a standard technique for mapping the location of ferrous material on the seabed.
- multibeam sonar a multibeam sonar is used to gather bathymetric data from the wreck sites for the creation of 3D terrain models and georeferenced 2D images.
Introduction
Welcome to the Marine and Maritime research guide on the Batavia shipwreck. This guide contains the history of the Batavia as well as methods of locating, retrieving and conserving shipwrecks.
"In 1629 the Dutch East India merchantman, the Batavia, was wrecked on the reef islands off the Western Australian coast while on the maiden voyage to Batavia. For the survivors, this disaster was the beginning of a harrowing ordeal of desertion, betrayal and murder. As their captain, Pelsaert, sailed for help, over 125 men, women and children were murdered by mutineers in a frenzy of bloodlust and greed. When Pelsaert returned, months later, with a rescue ship, the marooned were caught in a desperate battle between soldiers trying to defend them and the mutineers who were determined to leave no witnesses" (Edwards, 2000).
Murder Island
60 Minutes. (2016, November 12). Murder Island - Batavia [Television series]. Melbourne, Australia: Nine Corporation.
As far as gripping, real-life crime thrillers go, this one has everything. A mutiny, a psychopath and a brutal mass murder. It’s a 388-year-old cold case mystery that dates back to 1629 when the Dutch sailing ship, Batavia, struck a tiny atoll off the West Australian coast near Geraldton. Almost 300 passengers and crew survived the shipwreck but over the next few months, as they waited to be rescued, more than 100 were slaughtered. For centuries their bodies lay buried, the story forgotten. But now the search for the truth about Australia’s greatest mass murder is underway as archaeologists from Australia and the Netherlands dig up new clues – and victims.
Batavia History
- ABC Splash. (2013, July 6). Batavia shipwreck leads to mass murder. Retrieved from http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/1271387/batavia-shipwreck-leads-to-mass-murderIn 1629, the Dutch merchant ship Batavia was wrecked off the Western Australian coast near present-day Geraldton. What followed was a tale of mutiny and mass murder on the surrounding islands. Hear from two members of the 1963 expedition that first uncovered the ship's remains, as they visit one of the islands in 2013.
- Western Australian Museum. (2014). Batavia's history. Retrieved from http://museum.wa.gov.au/research/research-areas/maritime-archaeology/batavia-cape-inscription/bataviaThe VOC's flagship Batavia (VOC Chamber Amsterdam) left Texel, Holland on her maiden voyage to the East Indies. She sailed under the command of Francisco Pelsaert - one of the VOC's most experienced merchants - in a fleet of seven ships. The main cargo consisted of silver coins and two antiquities belonging to the artist Rubens for sale to an Indian Mogul ruler, but it also carried pre-fabricated sandstone blocks for a portico to be erected as gatehouse in the city of Batavia. This was the new headquarters of the VOC in the East Indies situated in the north-western tip of Java.
- VOC History. (2016, April). Batavia. Retrieved from http://www.vochistory.org.au/batavia.htmlIn the early hours of 4 June 1629 the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia, with 316 people on board, was wrecked on Morning Reef in the Wallabi Group of the Abrolhos Islands just 60 km off the coast of Geraldton, Western Australia.
Websites
- Department of Energy and Conservation. (2018). Shipwrecks. Retrieved from https://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/historic-shipwrecksAustralia protects its shipwrecks and their associated relics that are older than 75 years through the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 administered in collaboration between the Commonwealth and the States, Northern Territory and Norfolk Island. This Department of Energy and Conservation website provides information on Australian shipwrecks and their conservation.
- Office of Environment and Heritage. (2018) Maritime Heritage. Retrieved from https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/MaritimeHeritage/index.htmOffice of Environment and Heritage website provides information and research on Maritime Heritage.
- Western Australian Museum. (2018). Shipwrecks Databases. Retrieved from http://museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/maritime-archaeology-databasesThe Maritime Archaeology Databases have been developed as a public facility where visitors can search our collection databases for shipwreck information, shipwreck artefacts, numismatic (coin) materials, as well as the ANCODS (Agreement between Australia and the Netherlands Concerning Old Dutch Shipwrecks) collection, which on 21 March 2011 was consolidated into the one collection at the WA Museum.
- Western Australian Museum. (2020). Batavia. Retrieved from https://museum.wa.gov.au/marine-maritime-studies-student-resources/year-12-unit-4-bataviaWestern Australian Museum Marine Maritime Studies student resources for Year 12 - Unit 4 - Batavia