H.M.B. Endeavour - The Landing Place
“On June 18th 1770 eighty six men of H.M.Bark Endeavour, along with their livestock of sheep, pigs, dogs, ducks, hens and the ship’s goat, reached the safety of this shore.”
Richard Pickersgill's Plan
18th June
COOK – “At 1pm the ship floated and we warped her into the harbour and moored her alongside of a steep beach on the south side.”
BANKS. “…so near the shore that by a stage from her to it all her cargo might be got out and in again in a very short time.”
PARKINSON – “We set up tents ashore, unloaded her, carried all the cargo and provisions into them, and there lodged and accommodated our sick.”
19th June
COOK – “I went upon one of the highest hills over the harbour [Grassy Hill] from which I had a perfect view of the inlet or river and adjacent country which afforded a very indifferent prospect, the low lands near the river is all over run with mangroves among which the salt water flows every tide and the high land appears to be barren and stony.”
BANKS – “Went over the water today to spy the land which there was sand hills [North Shore].On them I saw some Indian houses which seemed to have been inhabited since those on this side, tho not very lately. There were vast flocks of pigeons and crows; of the former which were very beautiful we shot several.”
21st June
COOK – “In the pm landed the powder. After the coals was trimmed away from over the leak we could hear the water gushing in a little abaft the foremast and about 3 feet from her keel; this determined me to clear the hold completely. Accordingly very early in the morning we went to work to get out the coals which was employment for all hands.”
22nd June
COOK – “At 4 in the pm having got out most of the coals, cast loose the moorings and warped the Ship a little higher up the harbour to a place I had pitched upon to lay ashore for stopping the leak.”
