The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.

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Hartog Gallery

Hartog to de Vlamingh Gallery

This gallery features artefacts, charts, documents and books from Australia's early Dutch explorers. It explores the journeys of Hartog through to de Vlamingh showcasing 100 years of Dutch explorations of Australia.

The Hartog to de Vlamingh Gallery also features the de Vlamingh plate, the replica Duyfken, and a replica of the original Pelsaert’s journal – which documented the horror of the Batavia mutiny.

The gallery's floor is built from wooden blocks made of jarrah, a local Western Australian timber crucial to the development of the State. These formed part of the Museum’s original convict-constructed building. 

Deep Dives

Dutch armour, helmet and weapons, displayed with Aboriginal spears and other weapons.

Armed and Ready

The Weapons Cabinet. But What is a First Nations 'Fire Stick'?

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Smooth, square, pieces of wood are laid like tiles on the gallery floor.

Jarrah Paving Blocks

Look down at what you are walking on.

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Round, grey, metal disc etched and engraved with lettering, and cracks and holes worn through age.

Just a Mess Dish

de Vlamingh Plate

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Round ball mounted on a stand with images of countries of the world printed on it.

Really, the Earth is Flat?

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Long rod with two smaller pieces laid across mounted in a cabinet next to illustrations and information about Back Staff.

The Backstaff

Easy on your eyes

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Heavy brass metal circular ring with cross through the middle displayed in glass cabinet.

The Mariner's Astrolabe

Measuring the Heavens

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Two vertical pieces of worn knotted old looking pieces of wood .

What do all those nails mean?

Hamelin's Post

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Cabinet containing four lead pieces suspended on string into glass containers with different samples of sea bed soils.

What Lies Under - The Ship's Lead

The Ship's Heaving Lead and Line

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Wooden blocks and equipment for sawing wood can be seen next to the tram line under construction.

Blocks underground in Fremantle

A recent archaeological find

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The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.