On the morning of Saturday 18 July, residents of Coochiemudlo Island continue the tradition of re-enacting the historic landing of Matthew Flinders on the island.

The re-enactment provides education through entertainment — lots of fun!

Please get to Norfolk Beach by 11.30am.

A bit of background …

On 19 July 1799, Lieutenant Matthew Flinders landed at 11.40 from his sloop Norfolk to take a sextant reading from the beach as the sun reached its zenith while crossing the meridian. Flinders took his reading at 11.52 am; the latitude was 27 degrees 34 minutes 59 seconds south, and he named the island Sixth Island.

The first re-enactment on Coochiemudlo Island was staged in 1977 with Edward Field (Ted) Jones as Matthew Flinders. in 1977. Ted, an island resident, was an engineer who had been an aircraft navigator in the Second World War — he cleverly determined that Coochiemudlo was in fact Flinders’ Sixth Island.

Island resident, Steve Shelly, as Matthews Flinders, at the 2023 Flinders Day Re-enactment.

This year, Matthew Flinders, will be ably played by island resident, Steve Shelley. Flinders and his crew will row to shore in search of fresh water. Flinders takes his reading with the sextant, and onlookers hear why the Sixth Island was significant.

Ted Jones and local supporters, notably Isabelle Callaghan, proposed the official naming of Norfolk Beach in 1977 to mark Flinders’ landing.

We hope you can join us for the re-enactmement and the fun!