P4JJJUSRMINISTE
FOR PRESS 20 JANUARY 1977
EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY 5.30 p. m.
PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA
ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL HANDING OVER OF THE BLIGH NOTEBOOK
Following the mutiny on the Bounty, Captain Bligh ana 17 men made
an epic 3,500 mile voyage in a 23-foot open boat. This voyage
stands as one of the most arduous sea journeys, and one of the
most outstanding feats of navigation in British Naval history.
For a considerable period of time, the primary document of that
voyage was the journal, held by the Mitchell Library, which Bligh
wrote after he reached safety. Recently, the interest of historians
around the world has been excited by the emergence of the original
note book Bligh wrote in the course of that voyage. This notebook
fills an important gap in the documentation of Australia's evolution,
complementing and supplementing many other items, both in the
National Gallery and other Australian institutions relating to
Australia's early settlement. Accordingly, the Governmenat was
very pleased to make a special grant, enabling the Australian
National Library to acquire Bligh's notebook, and hold it in trust
for present and future generations of Australians.
I have only had the opportunity to read extracts from the notebook,
but I understand that amongst other things, it provides additional
insights into Bligh's character, and an interesting description of
Fletcher Christian. Bligh describes Christian as " dark and very
swarthy, strong star tatowed on the left breast, and tatowed
on the backside. His knees stand a little out and may be called
a little bowlegged. He is subject to violent perspiraLion.. 2'
The notebook includes material Bligh omitted from the jou~ rnal
concerning his emotional state, his prayers of anguish almost'-of
despair and his attitudes towards his men who he described as
" such discontented people who don't know what to be or what is
best for them". It is also interesting that while the notebook
carries a plea for mercy for four of the mutineers, no such plea
appears in the later journal.
Bligh of course was prominent in another mutiny of sorts. His
period of Governorship was one of the most turbulent in t'he early
Colony's history, culminating in his arrest on the petition of
over 100 citizens. Bligh returned to England an embittered man
and few historians have subsequently treated him kindly. The
late Dr. Evatt was one of those few who had some regard for Bligh.
/ Another
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Another historian, noted for his work on Australia's early
history with his customary predilection for colourful phrases
has described Bligh as " the man who was angry without cause,
who bequeathed no monument of achievement to posterity, and
tasted deep damnation on earth as the fruit of his disquiet."
The acquisition of the notebook will, I hope, stimulate and
facilitate more extensive research into the life and times of
Bligh. The acquisition and preservation of items which are
part of our national heritage is of fundamental importance to
our sense of national identity, to our sense of ourselves and
to the historical and human experience which made us what we
are as a nation.
Some idea of the collective impact on our national consciousness
of the possession and display of records relating to our history
can be seen in the exhibition on shipping currently being mounted
by the National Library. The fortitude of Captain Bligh as set
out in his notebook and that of our early explorers is made vivid
by the pictorial records on exhibition of the ships in which the
early navigators sailed. We have a responsibility to preserve
our national heritage, and it is a matter of concern to the
Government that important relics have been lost to Australia
in the past. The Bligh notebook will augment the national
collections which have recently been added to by other acquisitions
made by the Government on behalf of the Australian people.
Governor Lachlan Macquarie's sword and dirk were acquired last
year and are currently on display, together wi-th other items
associated with Macquarie in the Mitchell Library. They will
continue to be displayed around Australia so that as many people
can have access to them as possible. Similarly, after the initial
display in the National Library, the Bligh notebook will be made
available for display in other Australian institutions.
As you know, 1977 marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of
the Federal Parliament in Canberra. The Government has recently
further added to -the national collections by purchasing the
Crossley motor car used by Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and
Duchess of York on that occasion. Their daughter, Her Majesty
the Queen, will be visiting Australia this year during her Silver
Jubilee Year, and I hope that this historic vehicle may be used
in the celebration of these two significant events.
In pursuit of the proper conservation of Australia's historical
heritage, the Government has also recently established an
independent committee on official establishments. This committee
has the responsibility of advising the Government on the maintenance
operation, conservation and longer term improvement of the four
official residences of the Commonwealth Government Government
House, The Lodge, Kirribilli House, and Admiralty House. These
residences are storehouses of Australian history and tradition,
and it is essential that their significance be maintained and
enhanced. Their decoration for instance, should not be
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3
determined by the whim of the occupants of the day, but by
considerations of the part the establishments have played, and
will continue to play, in Australian history, and the ability
of future generations to understand that history.
The Government believes that all places and items of real
historic value to Australia should be preserved for future
generations, and that this goal must be responsibly pursued
even in times of great economic restraint. The preservation of
our national heritage cannot however be achieved by the Government
alone. All Australians have an important part to play and many
people are actively contributing to this goal, including the
many friends and associates of the National Library who are here
today to see the Bligh notebook.
Mr. Director General, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great
pleasure to be here to mark the acquisition of the Bligh notebook
and to emphasise the role of the National Library in holding the
notebook in trust.