Chart of the Swan River

This hitherto unrecorded chart of the Swan River was drawn by Francois-Antoine Boniface Heirisson of the Naturaliste from direct observation after his journey by long boat along the course of the Swan River from 17-22 June 1801. Heirisson has included on the chart soundings along the entire length of his journey up the river, and comments on the singular topography of the mouth of the river (the bar), making reference to several features seen along its course.

The Western Australian coastline had been mapped by Vlamingh one hundred years earlier but his rough map includes no more than a sketch of the first stretch of the Swan River. No other mapping of the area had been carried out until the arrival of the Baudin expedition when Sub-Lieutenant Heirisson and the mineralogist Bailly led a small party to explore the Swan River with orders to chart the river as far as possible, to establish whether the river could be used as a convenient port of call for vessels and to search for sources of fresh water.

Format: Autograph manuscript on four sheets of thick laid paper pasted together, ink, pencil and watercolour, grid in red, compass and scale in black, soundings in pencil, references to features such as shallow waters, rocks, waterfall in pen, approximately 14 x 40 1/8in. (35.5 x 102 cm.), June 1801.