The Duyfken (meaning ‘Little Dove’), a replica of the Dutch East India Company’s 1606 vessel celebrated as the first European contact with Australia, will arrive in Townsville this Friday, 25 August 2006.   

Townsville Port Authority is proud to be the sponsor of the Townsville leg of this 400th Anniversary voyage, bringing Australian history to life.

On its anniversary voyage, the Duyfken will visit 25 ports around Australia, covering a total of 12,000 kilometres of Australian coastline. The journey is a partnership between the Australian Government, Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation and Australia on the Map: 1606-2006.

The voyage honours the achievements of Captain Willem Janszoon and his crew who charted more than 350km of the Gulf of Carpentaria coast of Australia's Cape York Peninsula.   Making landfall on the Australian continent, this was the first time in recorded history that Aboriginal Australians met people from the European world.  The Duyfken replica was crafted in Fremantle, Western Australia over three years and was completed in 1999.

The Duyfken will be berthed on the Quarterdeck Pontoons of the Breakwater Marina and is open to the public at the following times during its visit:

Saturday, 26 August: 9am - 5pm
Sunday, 27 August: 9am - 5pm
Monday, 28 August: 12 noon - 5pm
Tuesday, 29 August: 12 noon - 5pm

The ship will also be open to schools for visits exclusively during the hours of 9 am to 12 noon on Monday 28, Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 August.  Entry is free, however all visitors are invited to make a gold coin donation to benefit the not-for-profit Duyfken Replica Foundation for ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the ship. The ship will depart Townsville Port on Wednesday, 30 August.

More information about the Duyfken's visit to Townsville is available from Kelly Dalling on (07) 4781 1544.  General information about the Duyfken can be found on the website http://www.duyfken.com.

 TPA-Media Release Duyfken Coming to Townsville Port.pdf (40.75 KB)