The gift of Flinders’ insights
by Kelly Stone
The donation of a deluxe edition of Matthew Flinders’ private journal has opened a window to the past for UniSA students and staff.
The naval explorer’s journal, from 17 December 1803 to 10 July 1814, was donated to UniSA by Margaret de Rohan through the Friends of the State Library.
Her late husband, Maurice de Rohan, a prominent South Australian who had a close association with UniSA, had originally ordered the deluxe edition.
UniSA Library Director Helen Livingston said the journal was a wonderful gift that would be a lasting and significant memento of the important relationship the University has with the de Rohan Family.
"The journal is from the period after Flinders travelled around Australia, during the nine years he was imprisoned in Mauritius and then his life back in London before he died in 1814," Livingston said.
"I guess it’s a window to another time. As someone whose activities affected how Australia came to be, this is an invaluable insight into his thinking and his times."
Captain Matthew Flinders circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of the name for the continent. He survived shipwreck only to be imprisoned for violating the terms of his scientific passport by changing ships and carrying prohibited papers. Flinders is seen as being particularly important in South Australia with landmarks named after him including the Flinders Ranges, the suburb of Flinders Park, Flinders Street in the city, and Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island.
Flinders’ journal is being kept in the UniSA Library’s special collection at the City West campus. Livingston said the journal would be a fantastic resource for staff and students.
"For those studying Australian history, it will be important in giving perspectives on how our nation was established and the implications of that for the way we are today," she said.
"But the thing I really take out of it, is the insight into the subtler social history, for instance how Flinders felt about family…the difficult separations such as being apart from his wife for nine years, what that was like for him and for her. The bigger insights into international affairs, the politics of the day – they are an insight into the genesis of who we are today.
"I think another thing the journal shows is that Flinders was a scholarly professional. He was a professional sailor, but he draws, he paints, he reads, he knows other languages and he’s reflective on a whole range of issues. I think if young people read this they’d realise you don’t have to be one-dimensional, you can be multi-dimensional, and I think that’s a very important reason you come to university."