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DUYFKEN RETURNS TO WA

The Western Australian-built replica of the first ship recorded as visiting Australian shores will return to WA as a result of a State Government funding package.

The replica 17th century sailing ship, the Duyfken, was built in Fremantle in the late 1990s with State Government assistance.  Since then she has sailed to Asia, Europe and all Australian states a number of times.

The State Government will provide the Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation with a $263,000 grant for the Duyfken to sail from Sydney to Perth.  In addition, the foundation will be provided with $125,000 per annum (indexed) for 10 years for the Duyfken to be home ported in Perth.  Two State Government staff members will also be provided to assist with managing the project.

The foundation will also contribute to the ongoing maintenance and sailing of the Duyfken and is negotiating the location of the ship’s mooring in Perth.

The Duyfken will form a key part of the celebrations being planned in 2016 for the 400-year anniversary of Dirk Hartog’s landing at Cape Inscription.  This is the first recorded landing of Europeans in WA.