Model of the ship BATAVIA

Replica model of the ship BATAVIA.

The VOC’s flagship BATAVIA (VOC Chamber Amsterdam) left Texel, Holland on 27 October 1628 on her maiden voyage to the East Indies under the command of Francisco Pelsaert, carrying silver coins, other valuables and sandstone blocks for a portico to be erected in the city of Batavia.

On the morning of the 4th of June 1629, the BATAVIA was wrecked on Mornington Reef on the Houtman Abrolhos off the cost of Western Australia. After a fruitless search for water, Commander Pelsaert sailed on of the ship’s boats 33 days to Batavia, to obtain help. In the days following, under-merchant Jeronimus Cornelisz seized control and embarked on a campaign of murder, rape, sexual slavery and torture against the survivors encamped on Beacon and Traitor Islands.

A group of soldiers led by Wiebbe Hayes were marooned on another island and when Cornelisz attempted to attack and kill them, he and five of his co-conspirators were overpowered and held until Pelsaert returned from Batavia on the yacht SARDAM. On 2 October 1629, following the confession of their crimes, the condemned mutineers had their right hands cut off and in the case of Cornelisz both hands, prior to being put to death on the gallows. Two men were left behind as punishment and some of the lesser offenders were taken back to Batavia for trial where many were executed.

Out of over 300 people aboard the BATAVIA, only 116 survived what remains one of the bloodiest and tragic episodes of Australia’s early history.