Beautiful Recherche Bay, in southwest Tasmania, came to prominence only recently, buts its significant for Australians goes back more than two centuries. It was there in 1791-1793 that many of Australia’s unique plants were collected by botanists for the first time; a joyous encounter occurred between visiting French explorers and the Tasmanian people; and critical experiments on the earth’s magnetic field were conducted by French scientists. Long forgotten, the place hit the news in 2001 with the discovery of the remains thought to be from the French expedition. A public campaign to save the site from logging was resolved through eh generosity of businessman Dick Smith, who underwrote its purchase by the Tasmanian Land Conservancy. To celebrate that outcome a symposium was held in 2007 in Hobart with experts in several disciplines exploring the historical, scientific and cultural significance of Recherche Bay. This book is the outcome.
It begins with a review of the historical context of the French expedition, followed by assessments of its scientific contributions to cartography, botany and zoology. The French encounter with the Tasmanians is examined and its significant to later studies on archaeology and the original of language discussed. This is followed by a review of the subsequent history of Recherche Bay as a centre of whaling.
The remaining chapters deal with contemporary matters. A report on the current archaeological assessment of the stone structure purported to be the French garden is followed by examinations of the concept of place, the basis of public versus private values and the legal aspects of the controversy over Recherche Bay. The final chapters looks to the future: how best to conserve the several values represented at Recherche Bay.
