Curio

State Library of New South Wales
A Chart of Bass's Strait between New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land explored by Matt.w Flinders 2nd Lieut. of His Majesty's Ship Reliance by order of His Excellency Governor Hunter, 1798–9, 1801

A Chart of Bass's Strait between New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land explored by Matt.w Flinders 2nd Lieut. of His Majesty's Ship Reliance by order of His Excellency Governor Hunter, 1798–9, 1801

Matthew Flinders
Published by A Arrowsmith, London
DL Cc 80 / 1

Separate voyages led George Bass and Matthew Flinders to share the view that a strait separated the mainland from Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). Flinders and Bass set out on the Norfolk to settle the matter – Flinders concentrated on charting and Bass documenting the land. Having satisfied themselves on the existence of the strait and island, at Flinders’ suggestion, Governor Hunter named the strait after Bass. This chart shows the tracks of George Bass's whaleboat (1797–98), Matthew Flinders’ Francis (1798) and Bass and Flinders’ Norfolk (1798–1799).

This second state engraving

This second state engraving reissued in 1801, carries the same imprint as the first state of Flinders'A Chart of Basses Strait between New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land, yet incorporates corrections and alterations.Bass'sreplaces BassesandDiemen'sreplacesDieman's and the longitude of the mainland coast has been altered. The position of King Island is indicated by the observationLand of considerable extent has been seen in about this situation.