Vice Admiral William Bligh

Vice Admiral William Bligh

Capt. William Bligh was Adventure Bay's most frequent visitor in the early years:

He was sailing master of Capt. Cook's Resolution when it visited Adventure Bay in 1777.
On August 19, 1788, he anchored the immortal Bounty in the bay. A model and plan of the garden of this ship is on display. He spent more than a fortnight here in 1792, during his second breadfruit voyage with the Providence and Assistant.
As the deposed Governor of New South Wales, he was in Tasmanian waters from March 17, 1810 and spent much of his time at Adventure Bay in the Porpoise. As a navigator and cartographer of more than ordinary ability, he was responsible for many of the charts made on Cook's third voyage, among them possibly two of Adventure Bay, attributed to Cook.

His first contact with Tasmania during his Bounty voyage was on August 19, 1788, when he sighted the high bold outline of Mewstone Rock, off the south-west coast.

Yachts use it as a turning point in ocean races today.

All next day he tried to enter Adventure Bay but it was not until August 21 that he managed to anchor under Penguin Island. He chose as a wood and watering place the spot favoured by Cook in 1777.

The stumps of trees cut by Cook's men had grown shoots 20ft. (6m) to 30ft.(9m) high, and 14 inches (0.3m) in circumference. Bligh's botanists were impressed by the mighty trees they saw.

Botanist Nelson saw one in a very healthy state which he found to be 33ft. 6in.(10.2m) in girth and of a height proportionate to its bulk. Each day the crew had bream, rock cod, some very fine perch, in addition they caught flounders, soles and small fry, some not unlike a herring and called "warriors".

Model of the H.M.S. Bounty.

Bligh brought with him from the Cape of Good Hope a large number of fruit trees. He selected the eastern side of the bay as suitable for them because trees grew less thickly and the soil appeared to be good.

He planted at East Cove three young apple trees, nine vines, six plantain trees, orange , lemon seed, cherry, plum, peach, apricot stones, two types of Indian corn, apple and pear kernels. He considered the land to be “of rich, marly nature well adapted for these plants.”

Mr. Nelson also planted other seeds and trees round the bay. While Bligh planted onions, cabbage roots and potatoes.
Bligh found the natives timid and shy. He had no long contact with them. His men found growing in great abundance what they called New Zealand tea, which, when dried, formed a very satisfactory substitute for real tea.

The charts of this expedition are the first to show “Table Hill” (Mt. Wellington). It was shown but not named in Bligh’s map of 1777.
Bligh wrote that “Adventure Bay is a most convenient place for any number of ships to wood and water at but it has this inconvenience in the Winter months when southerly winds are prevalent, there is a troublesome surf on every part of the shore.”

After the mutiny on the Bounty and the amazing open-boat voyage to Timor, Bligh set out on a fresh attempt to transplant breadfruit from Otaheite to the West Indies.

Bligh entered Adventure Bay on February 8, 1792. His men sought wood at the spot chosen previously in Quiet Corner and water at Resolution Creek.

He found one apple tree of those he had planted in 1788 but the rest of the garden appeared to have been destroyed by fire. The lone tree had not grown appreciably and had no fruit. Bligh planted quinces, figs, strawberries, pomegranates, rosemary and watercress. He also turned loose a cock and two hens.

Labillardiere, who visited Adventure Bay a year later saw some of Bligh’s plants flourishing.

H.M.S. Bounty

Picture of the Pandora being dispatched after the mutiny at Pitcairn Island.

Bligh was particularly interested in the “Table Mountains”—the range which includes Mt. Wellington. Had he explored more he would have been the first European to see Hobart Harbour and the Derwent.

Lieut. Tobin, who sailed with Bligh on the 1792 expedition, wrote: “Adventure Bay may certainly be considered a convenient place for vessels bound for the Pacific Ocean to touch at for wood and water. It is only exposed to winds from the north-east quarter but the Maria Islands being in that direction at a distance of six or seven leagues, no very heavy sea is to be apprehended.”

Tobin, who, through his mother was related to the wife of Lord Nelson—never published a most delightful volume of more than 100 water colours illustrating the 1792 voyage. Six depicting scenes at Adventure Bay and trees still standing are reproduced in this museum. The originals are in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.

BLIGH AS GOVERNOR OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND

Bligh's fourth visit to Tasmania was made after his deposition as Governor of New South Wales. On March 17, 1809, he sailed from Sydney in the Porpoise for the Derwent accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Putland who later married Governor Macquarie's A. D. C., Sir Maurice O'Connell.

The Porpoise with Bligh aboard was in Adventure Bay when news of Macquarie's arrival reached him. He immediately set out for Sydney, severing his last link with Tasmania.

Bligh died on December 7th 1817 aged 64 years, and was buried in the church yard of St Mary's Lambeth. Photographs of the tomb in which his wife is also buried are on display.