Scattered with coral reefs, crossing the Torres Strait was hazardous for early sailing ships as evidenced by hundreds of shipwrecks and loss of life. The first explorers such as Torres and Cook had to navigate the Strait without any maps. It was only after detailed mapping by the Navy Hydrographic Service, and the installation of beacons, that it could become a major shipping route. This history will include stories of murder, mayhem, mutiny, disastrous shipwrecks, desperate voyages in open boats, headhunting and hurricanes.
- Dangerous Passage – A Maritime History of the Torres Strait, Alfred Street Press, 2024, ISBN 9780645106855
- The culture and history of the Torres Strait Islanders
- The first explorers and early navigators as they tried to find a safe passage through the Torres Strait
- Why there were so many shipwrecks in this dangerous passage
- The significance of the Torres Strait and how it became a major shipping route
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Be familiar with the history and culture of the Torres Strait Islanders
- Understand how difficult it was for the first explorers and early navigators to find a safe route across the Torres Strait
- Understand the significance of the Torres Strait and how it became a major shipping route
