'Little Dove' to return home to WA

The Western Australian-built replica of the first ship recorded as visiting Australian shores will return to WA as a result of a State Government funding package, Acting Premier Kim Hames announced today.

  • Duyfken to become permanent tourist and educational attraction

  • Set to return to Perth in August 2012

The Western Australian-built replica of the first ship recorded as visiting Australian shores will return to WA as a result of a State Government funding package, Acting Premier Kim Hames announced today.

The replica 17th century sailing ship, the Duyfken, was built in Fremantle in the late 1990s with State Government assistance.  Since then she has sailed to Asia, Europe and all Australian States a number of times.

Dr Hames said the funding would provide the Duyfken with a permanent home while also creating a new tourism attraction and educational experience for West Australians and visitors.

"Since the ship's launch in 1999, the Duyfken has educated millions of people around the world on the shared history of Australia, Indonesia and the Netherlands," he said.

"Duyfken, which means Little Dove, is also a 'living' testament to the State's expertise in historic and modern boat building."

The State Government will provide the Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation with a $263,000 grant for the Duyfken to sail from Sydney to Perth.  In addition, the foundation will be provided with $125,000 per annum (indexed) for 10 years for the Duyfken to be home ported in Perth.  Two State Government staff members will also be provided to assist with managing the project.

The Acting Premier said the foundation would also contribute to the ongoing maintenance and sailing of the Duyfken and was negotiating the location of the ship's mooring in Perth.

The Duyfken will form a key part of the celebrations being planned in 2016 for the 400-year anniversary of Dirk Hartog's landing at Cape Inscription.  This is the first recorded landing of Europeans in WA.

      Fact File

  • The original Duyfken sailed from Banda in Indonesia to the Pennefather River near Weipa in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland in 1606

  • The Duyfken is on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in NSW until May 2012 when the vessel will embark on an 84-day voyage back to WA

  • For more information visit http://www.duyfken.com

Premier's office - 9222 9475