# Recherche Bay

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Not to be confused with [Recherche Fjord](/source/Recherche_Fjord).

Bay in south-eastern Tasmania, Australia

Recherche Bay (Leillateah) A beach on Recherche Bay near Cockle Creek Recherche Bay (Leillateah) Location in Tasmania Location Southern Tasmania Coordinates 43°32′S 146°54′E / 43.533°S 146.900°E / -43.533; 146.900 Etymology Recherche Ocean/sea sources Southern Ocean Basin countries Australia Designation Australian National Heritage List[1]

**Recherche Bay** (locally [/ˈri.sərtʃ/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*REE-sərtch*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)) is an oceanic [embayment](/source/Embayment), part of which is listed on the [National Heritage Register](/source/Australian_National_Heritage_List),[1] located on the extreme south-eastern corner of [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania), [Australia](/source/Australia). It was a landing place of the [d’Entrecasteaux expedition](/source/Bruni_d'Entrecasteaux) to find missing explorer [La Pérouse](/source/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_de_Galaup%2C_comte_de_La_P%C3%A9rouse). It is named in honour of the [*Recherche*](/source/French_ship_Recherche_(1787)), one of the expedition's ships. The [Nuenonne](/source/Nuenonne_language) name for the bay is ***Leillateah***.[2] The bordering land is the [locality](/source/Suburbs_and_localities_(Australia)) of [Recherche](/source/Recherche%2C_Tasmania), in the local government area of [Huon Valley](/source/Huon_Valley_Council) in the [South-east](/source/South-east_LGA_Region) region of Tasmania.

## Nuenonne people

The original inhabitants of the region were the Nuenonne people of [Aboriginal Tasmanians](/source/Aboriginal_Tasmanians). They were a maritime people who constructed durable [catamarans](/source/Catamaran) that enabled sea journeys to places such as [Bruny](/source/Bruny_Island) and the [Maatsuyker Islands](/source/Maatsuyker_Islands). The famous Nuenonne woman, [Truganini](/source/Truganini), was born at Recherche Bay. The Nuenonne were either killed, died of introduced disease, or removed from the region during the early stages of British colonisation. By the mid 1830s, Indigenous habitation of Recherche Bay ceased.[3]

## French exploration

French explorers set up a camp, made a garden and scientific observatory at Recherche Bay in April 1792 for 26 days, and again in January 1793 for 24 days.[4] Both landings were made to seek refuge and replenish supplies although as much time as possible was dedicated to scientific research. The botanists [Jacques Labillardière](/source/Jacques_Labillardi%C3%A8re), [Claude Riche](/source/Claude_Riche) and [Étienne Pierre Ventenat](/source/%C3%89tienne_Pierre_Ventenat), assisted by gardener botanist [Félix Delahaye](/source/F%C3%A9lix_Delahaye), collected and catalogued almost 5000 [specimens](/source/Biological_specimen) including the blue gum (*[Eucalyptus globulus](/source/Eucalyptus_globulus)*), which later became Tasmania's [floral emblem](/source/List_of_Australian_floral_emblems). The expedition also made friendly contact with the Tasmanian Aboriginal people there in 1793.

The scientific observatory at Recherche Bay was the site of the first deliberate scientific experiment on Australian soil. At this observatory, geoscientist [Elisabeth Paul Edouard de Rossel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elisabeth_de_Rosse&action=edit&redlink=1) conducted a series of measurements that proved [geomagnetism](/source/Geomagnetism) varied with [latitude](/source/Latitude).[5]

It will be difficult to describe my feelings at the sight of this solitary harbour situateted at the extremeties of the globe, so perfectly enclosed that one feels separated from the rest of the universe. Everything is influenced by the wilderness of the rugged landscape. With each step, one encounters the beauties of unspoilt nature, with signs of decrepitude, trees reaching a very great height, and of corresponding diameter, are devoid of branches along the trunk, but crowned with an everlasting green foliage. Some of these trees seem as ancient as the world, and are so tightly interlaced that they are impenetrable.

— Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, Recherche Bay, January 1793.[6]

## British exploration and settlement

British exploration of the bay started in the early 1800s with [whalers](/source/Whaling) frequently using the bay as a temporary refuge. The maritime explorer, [James Kelly](/source/James_Kelly_(Australian_explorer)), attempted to land at Recherche Bay in late 1815 but was prevented by a large group of Nuenonne people who threw volleys of stones and spears at them.[7]

[George Augustus Robinson](/source/George_Augustus_Robinson) led the first European overland expedition through the region in 1830.[3]

Being isolated from the main areas of early settlement, exposed to westerly gales, and the terrain and soils of a nature that discouraged European agriculture, Recherche Bay saw only moderate activity following the British settlement of [Van Diemen's Land](/source/Van_Diemen's_Land).

In 1829, Recherche Bay was the site of the [*Cyprus* mutiny](/source/Cyprus_mutiny), in which the [brig](/source/Brig) *Cyprus* was seized by convicts being transported from [Hobart](/source/Hobart) Town to [Macquarie Harbour Penal Station](/source/Macquarie_Harbour_Penal_Station). The mutineers marooned officers, soldiers, and convicts who did not join the mutiny, without supplies. The mutineers then sailed the *Cyprus* to [Canton](/source/Guangzhou), [China](/source/China), where they scuttled her and claimed to be castaways from another vessel. On the way, *Cyprus* visited [Japan](/source/Japan) during the height of the period of [severe Japanese restrictions](/source/Sakoku) on the entry of foreigners, the first Australian ship to do so.

During the 1830s and 1840s, the bay was the site of up to five [bay whaling](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bay_whaling&action=edit&redlink=1) stations.[8] it was also a base for pilots guiding ships up the [D'Entrecasteaux Channel](/source/D'Entrecasteaux_Channel). Whaling ships often sheltered there from wild weather, or to try-out whales. Two whalers, the *Maria Orr*, in 1846, and *Offley*, in 1880, were wrecked there in gales. The main commercial activities in the later 19th century and into the early 20th century were timber-gathering, mostly centred on the township of [Leprena](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leprena,_Tasmania&action=edit&redlink=1) and coal mining, the latter mostly based around the township of [Catamaran](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catamaran,_Tasmania&action=edit&redlink=1). The Catamaran Coal Company employed the former [barque](/source/Barque) *[James Craig](/source/James_Craig_(barque))* as a coal hulk there.

## Reservation of the north east peninsula

In 2003 the private landowners of the D'Entrecasteaux expedition site sought permission to selectively log the area, which was opposed by a large-scale campaign to protect the site from destruction.

In January 2006 the [Tasmanian Land Conservancy](/source/Tasmanian_Land_Conservancy) (TLC) announced plans to raise a minimum of A$1.3 million to purchase the site from its private owners.[9] [Dick Smith](/source/Dick_Smith_(entrepreneur)) pledged A$100,000 to the cause,[10] and two weeks later it was announced that over $2 million had been raised to purchase and rehabilitate the site, and that it would be owned by the TLC.[11]

Part of the bay, being the north east peninsula area comprising 430 hectares (1,100 acres), was included in the National Heritage List on 7 October 2005.[1][12]

## See also

- [Australia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Australia)
- [Environment portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Environment)

- [South Coast Tasmania](/source/South_Coast_Tasmania)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-anhl_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-anhl_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-anhl_1-2) ["Recherche Bay (North East Peninsula) Area"](http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/recherche). *National Heritage Places*. [Department of the Environment](/source/Department_of_the_Environment_(Australia)), Australian Government. Retrieved 31 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Milligan, Joseph (1858). ["On the dialects and languages of the Aboriginal Tribes of Tasmania, and on their manners and customs"](https://eprints.utas.edu.au/19369/1/1-1859-Dialects-Aboriginal-Tribes-Tasmania.pdf) (PDF). *Papers of the Royal Society of Tasmania*: 270.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-friendly_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-friendly_3-1) Robinson, George Augustus; Plomley, NJB (2008). *Friendly Mission, the Tasmanian journals and papers of George Augustus Robinson*. Hobart: Quintus. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780977557226](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780977557226).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Recherche Bay (North East Peninsula) Area"](http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/841aacc8-4ce7-4477-b343-0dec0659c0ef/files/national-heritage-recherche.pdf) (PDF). *Australia's National Heritage*. [Department of the Environment](/source/Department_of_the_Environment_(Australia)), Australian Government. 7 October 2005. Retrieved 31 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Recherche Bay (North East Peninsula) Area, Southport, TAS, Australia"](http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105665). *Australian Heritage Database*. [Department of the Environment](/source/Department_of_the_Environment_(Australia)), Australian Government. 7 October 2005. Retrieved 31 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Landsdown, Richard (2009). "Romantic aftermaths". In Pierce, Peter (ed.). *The Cambridge History of Australian Literature*. Port Melbourne: Cambridge University Press. p. 120. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-88165-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-88165-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Boyce, James (2008). *Van Diemen's Land*. Collingwood: Black Inc. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781760644819](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781760644819).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Michael Nash, *The bay whalers; Tasmania's shore-based whaling industry*, Navarine, Canberra, 2003, p.134-6.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Bid to Buy Recherche"](http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17877405%255E3462,00.html). *[The Mercury](/source/The_Mercury_(Hobart))*. Tasmania. Retrieved 20 January 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Dick Smith joins bid to protect Recherche Bay"](http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1553087.htm). *ABC News*. Australia. 23 January 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Recherche Bay saved from logging"](http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1565183.htm). *ABC News*. Australia. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 11 July 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Inclusion of a Place in the National Heritage List: Recherche Bay (North East Peninsula) Area"](http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/841aacc8-4ce7-4477-b343-0dec0659c0ef/files/105665.pdf) (PDF). *Government Gazette*. [Commonwealth of Australia](/source/Commonwealth_of_Australia). 7 October 2005. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1032-2345](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1032-2345). Retrieved 31 July 2015.

## Further reading

- [Brown, Bob](/source/Bob_Brown) (2005). *Tasmania's Recherche Bay*. Green Institute. pp. 56, illustrations, maps. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-646-44899-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-646-44899-4).

- Clode, Danielle (2008). *Voyages to the South Seas: In search of Terres Australes* (Paperback reprint ed.). Melbourne: Miegunyah/MUP. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-522-85542-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-522-85542-5).

- [Duyker, Edward](/source/Edward_Duyker), ed. (March 2006). *Bruny d'Entrecasteaux: Voyage to Australia and the Pacific 1791–1793*. Duyker, Maryse (paperback ed.). Melbourne: Miegunyah/Melbourne University Press. p. 392. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-522-85232-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-522-85232-7).

- Duyker, Edward (2004). *Citizen Labillardière: A Naturalist's Life in Revolution and Exploration (1755–1834)* (Paperback reprint ed.). Melbourne: Miegunyah/MUP. p. 383. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-522-85160-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-522-85160-6).

- Duyker, Edward (December 2004). "A French Garden in Tasmania: The Legacy of Félix Delahaye (1767–1829)". *Explorations*: 3–18.

- Duyker, Edward (December 2005). "Uncovering Jean Piron: In Search of d'Entrecasteaux's Artist". *Explorations*: 37–45.

- Mulvaney, John; Tyndale-Biscoe, Hugh, eds. (December 2007). *Rediscovering Recherche Bay* (paperback ed.). Canberra: Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. p. 156. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-908290-22-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-908290-22-2).

- Mulvaney, John (2007). [*'The axe had never sounded': Place, People and Heritage of Recherche Bay, Tasmania*](http://press.anu.edu.au//aborig_history/axe/html/frames.php) (e-book ed.). Canberra: ANU E Press and Aboriginal History. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-921313-20-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-921313-20-2).

- Poulson, Bruce (2005). *Recherche Bay: A Short History* (Second ed.). Southport, Tasmania: The Management Committee of the Southport Community Centre. pp. 83, illustrations, bibliography, maps. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9757975-0-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9757975-0-1).

## External links

- [RechercheBay.org](http://www.recherchebay.org/information/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060130185957/http://www.recherchebay.org/information/index.html) 30 January 2006 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Tasmanian Land Conservancy](http://www.tasland.org.au/)

- [Catalyst story on Recherche Bay](http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s978915.htm)

v t e Southern region of Tasmania, Australia Settlements Hobart List of Hobart suburbs Adventure Bay Alonnah Barnes Bay Castle Forbes Bay Cockle Creek Cygnet Dennes Point Dover Electrona Franklin Geeveston Glen Huon Grove Howden Huonville Kellevie Kettering Lunawanna Magra Margate Mountain River New Norfolk Oyster Cove Ranelagh Sandfly Snug Southport Westerway Woodbridge Governance Clark (federal) Franklin (federal) Clark (state) Franklin (state) Huon Valley Council Kingborough Council Buckingham Elwick Huon Nelson Pembroke Rumney Mountains Arthur Range Federation Peak Hartz Meehan Flagstaff Hill Gunners Quoin Mount Direction Wellington Mount Nelson Mount Wellington Protected areas, parks and reserves East Risdon State Reserve Hartz Mountains National Park Hastings Caves State Reserve Port Cygnet Conservation Area South Bruny National Park South-east Tasmania Important Bird Area Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Rivers Arve Coal Derwent Garden Island Creek Huon Styx Harbours, bays, inlets and estuaries Adventure Bay Barnes Bay Cloudy Bay D'Entrecasteaux Channel North-West Bay Pitt Water Recherche Bay Storm Bay Coastal features South Coast South East Cape Transport Bruny Island Ferry Channel Highway Ida Bay Railway Sandfly Colliery Tramway South Line Westerway railway station Landmarks Natural Coal River Valley Derwent Valley Huon Valley Styx Valley Upper Florentine Valley Weld Valley Man-made Buckland Military Training Area Cape Bruny Lighthouse Craigbourne Dam South Coast Track Tahune AirWalk Islands Boomer Bruny Eddystone Egg Friars Garden Green Hope Images Nuggets Partridge Pedra Branca Picnic Satellite Books and newspapers Tasmania's offshore islands The Mercury Flora, fauna, and fishlife Centurion Triarius Bioregions South East (bioregion) Southern Ranges (bioregion) Indigenous heritage Bruny Island language Truganini Other Cygnet Folk Festival Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Recherche Bay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recherche_Bay) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recherche_Bay?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.