THE Duyfken replica sails into Hillarys tomorrow for a two-week stay as part of its west coast commemorative voyage.
The trip is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the landing of Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog on the WA coast.
It set sail from Fremantle last month and has already berthed at Bunbury and Mandurah before working its way up to Jurien Bay, Dongara, Geraldton and Denham.
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READ NOWThe ship will head from Denham on October 24 for Cape Inscription on Dirk Hartog Island where a plaque will be unveiled on October 25, 400 years to the day from when Hartog landed.
Hartog left an inscribed plate that was nailed to a post and jammed in a rock crevice on the most northern point of the island that is off Shark Bay and now carries his name.
The Duyfken replica was built in Fremantle for $3.7 million and launched in 1999.
It has since travelled the world, sharing the story of Willem Janzoon and the crew of the original Duyfken who became the first Europeans to set foot on Australian soil in 1606, on the western shores of the Cape York Peninsula, about 10 years before Hartog’s arrival aboard the Eendracht in 1616.
The ship departs Hillarys on September 27.
The public can go aboard and discover the challenges experienced by the “Dutchies” in their quest to grow the valuable spice trade from the East Indies.
There is also a family pirate day on September 18.
The State Government initiated the 400th anniversary celebrations and Lotterywest gave money to the Duyfken’s first major refurbishment since its launch.
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Duyfken’s Hillarys visit
Arrives: Thursday, September 15, 10am.
Departs: Tuesday, September 27, 4pm.
Tickets to go aboard: $12.74, $5.10 children aged 5-16.
Bookings: Ticketek
The Duyfken under sail.
Crew on departure from Fremantle.
Duyfken leaves Fremantle on its 400th anniversary of WA landing voyage.
Duyfken at Mandurah. Picture: Richard Polden