A Cannon from the Trial

The Cannon

This cast iron cannon was recovered in 1985 from the English East India Company ship Trial, the earliest known shipwreck in Australian waters. While on a voyage from Plymouth to Batavia (Jakarta) in 1622, Trial struck an uncharted reef north of the Monte Bello Islands. Ninety-three sailors were abandoned when the master John Brookes and forty-five others sailed away in two boats, eventually arriving in Batavia. En route, one of these boats landed on the Monte Bello Islands in search of water, making it the first known English landing on Australian soil. 

The Guncarriage 

This guncarriage was constructed by WA Museum staff to a seventeenth century British design. This English style carriage contrasts with the Dutch one also in the Museum. 

Funding for this project was donated by Peter Hickson.