The RHSV is thrilled to host this lecture, the only one in Melbourne, presented by the Institut de recherche Nicolas Baudin.

For more than two centuries, France and Australia have forged strong links. Between 1772 and 1827, no fewer than nine French scientific expeditions explored the Australian coastline. French scientists drew maps, studied flora and fauna, and opened up to the Aborigines. In the century that followed, Australians and French shed their blood side by side in two world wars.

As recently as December 2023, the governments of our two nations solemnly renewed their cooperation through a multi-year agenda covering areas as broad and fundamental as rare metals, defence, culture, history, Antarctica, oceans, space and sport.

It’s these connections that the Institut de recherche Nicolas Baudin wants to highlight in their 2024 lecture tour. The Institut is presenting 12 events in 6 Australian cities as well as in New Caledonia.

From Saint-Aloüarn, who took possession of Australia for Louis XV at Shark Bay (Western Australia) in 1772, to the scientists of the Baudin expedition who drew up a plan for Napoleon’s invasion of Sydney, to Dumont d’Urville, who explored King George Sound (now Albany) to make Western Australia a French colony, France and England have always competed for possession of the island continent. Starting with the famous painting of Lapérouse unfolding the map of his expedition in front of Louis XVI, with his hand pointing to Australia, this lecture tells the long story of this race with its many twists and turns.

Patrick Llewellyn is French and has a degree in humanities. For almost twelve years, he has specialised in the history of the great scientific maritime expeditions of the 18th century, in particular that of Nicolas Baudin, the battle of the longitudes and marine chronometers. He was involved in organising the Art of Science exhibition in Australia in 2016, dedicated to Captain Baudin’s expedition, and facilitated the loan to Australia from the Musée National de la Marine in Paris of one of only two surviving marine chronometers from the Baudin expedition, and the large copper plate used to engrave the first complete map of the Australian coastline in Paris in 1811. Patrick gave numerous lectures in Australia in 2015 and 2016.

The speaking tour is made possible by the support of the Institut’s partners:

• Bausele is an Australian watchmaker founded by a Frenchman, Christophe Hoppé.
• The Accor group is the worldwide leader in hospitality.
• The Silentworld Foundation and The Powerhouse Museum

And our event is sponsored by Dominique Portet Wines