The Zeewijk with Dr. Howard Gray

On the 9th of June, 1727, the Dutch East India Company vessel Zeewijk wrecked on Half Moon Reef of the Houtman Abrolhos, off the coast of Western Australia. The ship was not immediately destroyed and many of the ship's supplies were salvaged and brought to a small nearby coral island, later named Gun Island. After 9 months stranded on the island, the remaining survivors remarkably built a boat out of the scrap of the Zeewijk and sailed over 1600 miles to the Dutch settlement of Batavia on the island of Java. Author and historian Dr. Howard Gray joins me once again, to bring his expert knowledge of the history of Western Australia and the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago. Dr. Gray has written several books, including Lucretia's Batavia Diary, and you can find his publications at Westralian Books, https://www.westralianbooks.com.au. For ad-free listening to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs and many other fantastic history podcasts, subscribe to Into History, at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod. You can support the podcast in multiple ways! Make a one-time donation at Buy Me a Coffee Subscribe to Into History Buy some Merch! Follow on Social Media @shipwreckspod Tell a friend! Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.