A Chart of the Track of the Alexander on Her Homeward Passage from Port Jackson on East Coast of New South Wales to Batavia

This map published by John Stockdale tracks the progress of the Alexander, a store ship in the First Fleet to Australia, on her homeward voyage back to the United Kingdom. This leg of the journey is between Port Jackson and Batavia on Java.

The map was drawn by George Shortland, a seventeen year old midshipman, under the supervision of John Shortland, his father. John had a varied career in the Navy, but specialized in logistics and transport, which led to him being appointed Naval Agent, supervising logistics for the First Fleet. He did a superb job and on his return journey, mapped several unknown islands in the Pacific on his way to Batavia on Java. He also carried the first dispatches from Governor Phillip to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Francis Osborne. Although he was nominally only a Lieutenant, his word carried much influence, as he recommended that the eastern coast of Australia be carefully surveyed and this led to the appointment of Matthew Flinders to this task. He had two sons, another John, and the afore mentioned George, both of whom also had distinguished careers in the Navy.

It was maps and documents of men such as Shortland that fashioned and led to the development of Australia. [AUNZ2834]