Batavia Portico Facade

During the 1972-76 excavation of the Batavia, divers raised 137 shaped sandstone building blocks weighing a total of 37 tones. Like a giant jigsaw, they fitted together to form a magnificent portico facade.

Clues to the reason why the portico was on board the Batavia have been found in the Journal of Pieter van de Broke, published in 1634. This work contained a number of woodcuts, one of which showed the town and castle of Batavia (Jakarta). The woodcut, engraved by Adrian J. Matham of Haarlem, shows the Waterpoort or sea-gate of the castle incomplete, with scaffolding and a ladder in the place of the actual gateway. (see left)

Van den Broke arrived in Batavia on 19 June 1629 and left for The Netherlands on 18 December 1629. He notes in his journal the arrival of Commander Pelsaert with survivors from the wreck of the Batavia and his later departure in the Sardam.

The replication project was managed by Geoff Kimpton (Department of Maritime Archaeology) with a team comprised of Neil Southam and Damon Lee (replica production), Jamie Stuart (technical consultant) and Jobs West Career Placement assistants.