In 1802 Matthew Flinders was the first European to navigate and
chart the coast of South Australia. At that time, it was considered
a possibility that the Australian continent might be divided by an
inland sea. Therefore, Matthew Flinders’ hopes were probably
high when he entered what is now Spencer Gulf and continued sailing
north. Flinders noted the landmarks of the Middleback Ranges and
Mount Young, near what is now Whyalla.
Ten months later, Louis-Claude de Freycinet navigated and
charted the coast for the Baudin expedition. Freycinet was
interested in the landscape in the Whyalla area and regretted that
he did not have time to send landing parties and explore the
interior. The French expedition left the northern Spencer Gulf,
which they called Golfe Bonaparte, in January 1803.
On the way home, Flinders was detained at Mauritius for over six
years because England and France were at war when he called in
there. As a result, Freycinet’s charts of the coast were
published first.
As part of the Encounter 2002 project to recognise French
exploration, the area where the cache is, formerly Flinders
Lookout, was renamed the Flinders and Freycinet Lookout.
The two explorers were commemorated with contemporary sculptures by
Lindsay Herewane.
The lookout offers good views of the upper Spencer Gulf, the
Southern Flinders Ranges and Mount Young.
Note: you DO NOT
need either to leave the paved area or attack the shrubbery to find
the cache. There is even a little wall to sit on while you sign the
log.
Please keep watch - muggles can appear at any time from a number of
directions!
