Maria Island, situated off the east coast of Tasmania, holds a rich and complex history, particularly tied to Dutch exploration. Its story is interwoven with Indigenous heritage, European exploration, and a brief period as a convict settlement.
Indigenous heritage
For thousands of years, the Tyreddeme people of the Oyster Bay Nation called Maria Island home. The island’s resources, including its plentiful shellfish and marine life, provided sustenance for the Indigenous population. Middens, stone tools, and other archaeological remains bear testimony to their deep connection with the land and sea.
Dutch exploration
Maria Island was first sighted by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 during his historic voyage to chart the unknown southern lands. Tasman named the island after Maria van Diemen, the wife of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. This act of naming underscored the strategic and symbolic importance of Tasman’s mission to expand Dutch influence and knowledge of the region.
Tasman’s brief encounter with Maria Island was part of a broader effort to map and claim territory for the Dutch Republic. Although his interaction with the island was limited, the naming remains a significant legacy of Dutch exploration in the Southern Hemisphere.
Convict era
During the early 19th century, Maria Island served as a penal settlement under British colonisation. The convict station at Darlington was established in 1825 and later revived in the 1840s as part of the probation system. Convicts undertook hard labour, building infrastructure and supporting the colony’s agricultural needs. The Darlington site’s remnants offer a stark reminder of this period in Australia’s penal history.
Maria Island as a national park
In 1972, Maria Island was declared a national park, reflecting its ecological and historical value. The Darlington convict site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010 as part of the Australian Convict Sites, underlining its historical importance. Today, the island’s legacy of Dutch exploration and its subsequent chapters are preserved for study and reflection.
