The small open whaleboat commanded by George Bass navigated through treacherous tides and heavy swells to confirm the existence of a strait separating mainland Australia from Van Diemen's Land. This 1797 expedition established his reputation as a precise observer of geography, leading to the permanent naming of Bass Strait in recognition of his survival and nautical judgement.
Early Career and Arrival in Australia
Born in 1771 at Aswarby, Lincolnshire, Bass received his education at Boston Grammar School before training in medicine. He became a member of the Company of Surgeons at 18 and entered the Royal Navy as a surgeon. In September 1795, he reached Sydney aboard HMS Reliance, accompanied by Matthew Flinders and the surgeon's assistant William Martin.
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Bass quickly turned his attention to exploration. Utilizing a small boat named Tom Thumb, he and Flinders investigated the Georges River in October 1795. A second voyage in 1796 reached Lake Illawarra and Port Hacking. During this period, he attempted to cross the Blue Mountains and located lost cattle near Prospect Hill, while also documenting the volcanic geology of the Kiama Blowhole.
Scientific Contributions and Cartography
As a committed naturalist, Bass forwarded botanical specimens to Sir Joseph Banks and gained membership in the Society for Promoting Natural History. He provided early descriptions of the wombat and published observations in David Collins's account of the New South Wales colony. His 1798 circumnavigation of Van Diemen's Land in the sloop Norfolk provided the data necessary to confirm the strait's location, facilitating future settlements like Hobart.
Merchant Ventures and Disappearance
Following his 1800 marriage to Elizabeth Waterhouse, Bass pursued commercial ventures. He invested in the brig Venus to transport goods to Sydney, but found limited demand. To recover investments, he entered a contract to import salt pork from Tahiti, utilizing iron scavenged from a shipwreck in New Zealand to facilitate trade. On 5 February 1803, he departed Sydney for his final voyage; the ship and crew vanished, and his ultimate fate remains unknown.
Fast facts
- Born: 1771, Aswarby
- Died: After 5 February 1803, at sea
- Occupations: Surgeon, combat medic, explorer
- Education: Boston Grammar School
- Spouse: Elizabeth Waterhouse
- Key Discovery: Bass Strait
- Nationality: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Questions readers ask
How did Bass Strait get its name?
Matthew Flinders recommended to Governor John Hunter that the passage be named after Bass to honour his companion's dangerous whaleboat expedition and his accurate geological assessment.
What happened to George Bass on his final voyage?
Bass departed Sydney on 5 February 1803 aboard the brig Venus, intending to visit Tahiti and potentially the Spanish colonies in Chile. He and his crew were never seen again.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer, surgeon and combat medic
