Sir Joseph Banks Memorial
Kurnell, New South Wales, Australia

The Sir Joseph Banks Memorial.

Joseph Banks (1743–1820) was born of a wealthy family and was therefore able to independently fund his life long pursuit and study of natural history. He accompanied Captain James Cook during Cook’s first voyage of discovery between 1768 and 1771, collecting specimens at every landfall opportunity and together with Swedish naturalist Daniel Solander were the first Europeans to collect and document the unique flora and fauna found at Botany Bay.

This memorial to Banks is located at Kurnell, on the shores of Botany Bay, near where James Cook first landed on the east coast of Australia in April 1770. The northern headland at the Bay’s entrance is also named Cape Banks in his honour.



Another view of the Sir Joseph Banks Memorial.



Close-up of the plaque on the Sir Joseph Banks Memorial.



Close-up pf the bust of Sir Joseph Banks.
(All photos and text courtesy of Peter F. Williams)
© 2010 Peter F. Williams all rights reserved





Page published Apr. 18, 2010