1650

1651	5-Sep	William Dampier was born at East Coker, Somerset, England.
1652	27-Jun	Capt Arnold de Vlamingh van Outshoorn captured Lorkj, Ceram, and extended Dutch influence east to Timor
1656	26-Apr	The Dutch ship Girt Dragon was wrecked on the WA coast.
1659	22-Oct	Abel Tasman died in Batavia.
1678	3-Aug	Capt Johannes Keyts, Dutch yachts De Rogh, Spieringh and De Piesangh, signed a treaty with Moslem chiefs in Torres Straits and the Arafura Sea to regulate Dutch trade with New Guinea.
1687	19-Mar	Following the capture of Jamaica, rum was substituted for brandy as the RN’s traditional drink.
1688	4-Jan	William Dampier sighted the WA coast. He remained in the bay named after his ship, Cygnet, until 12 March.
1696	29-Dec	Capt Willem de Vlamingh, Dutch ships Geelvink, Nyptangh and Weeseltje, discovered Rottnest Island at the mouth of the Swan River, WA. He named the island from the number of rats, probably bandicoots, observed.
1697	10-Jan	Capt Willem de Vlamingh, Dutch ships Geelsvinck, Nyptangh and Weeseltje, discovered the Swan River, WA. He named the river after the black swans which he observed in large numbers.
1697	4-Feb	Capt Willem de Vlamingh, Dutch ships Geelvink, Nyptangh and Weeseltje, landed at Dirk Hartog Island, WA, and replaced Hartog’s pewter plate with one bearing a record of both visits. The original plate is preserved in the Amsterdam Museum.
1698	6-Aug	Samuel Pepys dined with William Dampier and heard the latter’s account of his voyage to Australia.
1699	14-Jan	Capt William Dampier, RN, HMS Roebuck, 5th rate, 26 guns, sailed from England with orders from the Admiralty to explore Australia.
1699	1-Aug	HMS Roebuck, Capt William Dampier, RN, anchored in Sharks Bay, WA.
1699	2-Aug	Capt William Dampier, RN, HMS Roebuck, reported the ship was rotten throughout and in need of a thorough refit.
1699	6-Aug	Capt William Dampier, RN, HMS Roebuck, visited Dirk Hartog Island, WA.