The La Perouse Museum is located in the Botany Bay National Park, in the eastern suburb of La Perouse. The museum opened in 1988 and tells the story of the expedition led by Jean-François de Galaup La Pérouse, its arrival in Botany Bay in 1788, the encounter with the First Fleet and eventual shipwreck in the Solomon Islands. It contains maps, scientific instruments and relics recovered from French explorers. This heritage listed building was designed by Colonial Architect James Barnett and built in 1882 as a Cable Station, It housed the operation of the first submarine telegraph communications cable laid between Australia and New Zealand and provided accommodation for staff.
A pity, Jim, that even if La Pérouse had got back home with news of his discoveries, Louis XVI would have been too busy with le fracas révolutionnaire at the time to have organised a colony with some traditions of decent cuisine and two-hour lunch breaks. Mind you, we'd all have had to learn those complex French verb conjugations, so maybe it's all just as well.
ReplyDeleteAustralia may have been a very different place if there were French colonies here too.
DeleteHello beautiful building, I love this photo!
ReplyDeleteHow fantastic.... specialist architecture for a cable car station. I wish I had seen the service in its heyday.
ReplyDeleteHels, it was actually a station for a submarine telegraph cable between Australia and New Zealand. Although, there was a tram service to La Perouse in the early days too.
Deletethanks Jim *blush*. It was still amazing architecture :)
DeleteNo worries. It is amazing.
Deletethat looks like a nice museum!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful building with lovely chimneys
ReplyDeleteLooks like a neat museum to explore
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful structure. Love the architecture and the porch...it is creamy.I think I would love to go through the museum. genie
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