Ian Burnet, DANGEROUS PASSAGE: A Maritime History of the Torres Strait
Alfred Street Press, Australia 2024. ISBN 9780645106855. Kindle version. 291 pages. €8.23.
Torres Strait is the narrow, treacherous passage between the Australian continent and the island of New Guinea; the shortest route between Asia and east coast Australia. Ian Burnet’s new book Dangerous Passage tells the story of its history from pre-history to modern times. I am not aware of another non-fiction account of this crucial and strategic waterway, so Ian Burnet has added a long overdue piece to the mosaic of Australian maritime history with his account.
I have read several of Ian’s books; my favourite’s being East Indies, Spice Islands, and of course, The Tasman Map. In relation to these other titles, Dangerous Passage covers mostly new ground, but as with his other books, indicates his ongoing fascination with the relationship between Australia and its closest neighbours. As soon as Dangerous Passage became available, I could not wait for the paperback to be delivered, so purchased the Kindle version, though I rarely do e-books. I just couldn’t wait. And it did not disappoint.
Dangerous Passage contains a Foreword, based around a very relevant quote from Joseph Conrad, who undertook a transit of the Strait westwards in 1888, captaining a barque. A short Prologue follows, briefly outlining the background of the Strait, and we learn that it saved six weeks on the passage to Asia via the north coast of new Guinea. Ian then invites us to continue reading for “…stories of murder, mayhem, mutiny, disastrous shipwrecks, desperate voyages of survival in open boats, headhunting and hurricanes.” And doesn’t disappoint.
The first chapter properly describes the setting; giving us an understanding of the geological formation of Strait, the layout of the islands themselves, and their peoples, the distinctive Torres Strait Islanders.
Then in subsequent chapters, we move onto historical accounts by Europeans of the Strait, starting of course with its namesake, Luis Vas de Torres, who traversed it in 1606, though not really appreciating he had the mystical Terra Australis to port. His lost and forgotten maps and account are a tragic tale. But at least he is immortal.
Next, the Dutch under the VOC East India Company discover the Strait, giving us the first glimpse of Australia on a map. Dutch exploration of Australia continued through the seventeenth century, but they were unable to overcome the difficulties of transiting the passage sailing eastward against the trade-winds.
The Fifth chapter brings in the British. Captain Cook, armed with Torres’ recently discovered account knows he can sail westward south of New Guinea, and makes only the second passage. Bligh follows in 1789 in an epic voyage in a small boat after the infamous mutiny, and then the frigate Pandora, searching for the mutineers is wrecked in the Strait three years later.
Escapees from Port Jackson, another Bligh voyage, various shipwrecks with cannibals thrown in, Mathew Flinders circumnavigations, the first eastward voyage–in 1823, French expeditions, and more horrifying shipwrecks fill the next dozen very readable and fascinating chapters. Ian has a nice, relaxed style that proceeds smoothly and with purpose, and does not leave questions unanswered.
The last chapters deal with the coming of civilisation to the Strait; the now faded settlements of Somerset and Port Albany, the pearlers and priests, and the surveyors dispatched to prevent further shipwreck tragedies. Through it all, Ian steers us through the sway of the trade-winds and the beguiling beauty of the landscapes that mariners must pass by in very fear of the reefs and sandbars that have claimed so many victims.
All in all, it is an intriguing tale of a fascinating slice of maritime history, delivered in easy-to consume ‘bite-size’ chapters that roll along with a pleasant rhythm. There is some contemporary artwork and a few fine maps, and some extraordinary stories and tales which I was unaware of.
I am very happy that Ian Burnet has produced this engaging work of history and plugged some gaps in my knowledge of that stretch between the Coral and Arafura Seas.
Torres Strait is the narrow, treacherous passage between the Australian continent and the island of New Guinea, the shortest route between Asia and east coast Australia. Ian Burnet’s new book Dangerous Passage tells the story of its history from pre-history to modern times. I am unaware of another non-fiction account of this crucial and strategic waterway, so Ian Burnet has added a long overdue piece to the mosaic of Australian maritime history with his account.
All in all, it is an intriguing tale of a fascinating slice of maritime history, delivered in easy-to-consume ‘bite-size’ chapters that roll along with a pleasant rhythm.