The earliest sightings of Australia by Europeans was of the West Coast, and from as early as 1622 British, Dutch, Portuguese and American ships have run foul of the treacherous waters along that coast line. The fascinating accounts of these shipwrecks include stories of murder and mutiny, of gold, silver and pieces-of-eight, of heroic rescues and lonely strandings, and of wartime tragedy. As well there are stories of some the earliest interactions between the Aboriginal peoples and Europeans. Of equal interest are the remarkable stories of the searches, discoveries, research and conservation work that has gone into the uncovering of these shipwrecks, and the recovery of this important aspect of Australias history.
