Description:
The plaque is at the west end of the cathedral, inside the west door.
To the right of the lettering is a copper sculpture of a stylistic floral design, which features one of the Banksia plants named after Sir Joseph Banks, Banksia Dentata. In the design the artist depicts the surging wake of a ship at sea.
History:
This monument was designed by Richard Devereaux, the artist was Sue Mason, Alan Thewlis was the letter-cutter, and the copper-worker was Caroline Mattaei.
The stone was quarried from the Dean and Chapter’s quarry in Lincoln, and the slate is from North Wales.
Unveiled on 26th May 2000 by H.E. Philip Flood AO, High Commissioner for Australia.
Inscription:
SIR JOSEPH BANKS
1743-1820
‘wide as the world is, traces of you are
to be found in every corner of it.’
Robert Hobart – 1793
A Lincolnshire squire who drained
the fens; he admired this cathedral
from the high gallery above here,
named Banks’ View.
Naturalist, patron of science,
collector; he was an ally of
and companion to
Captain James Cook.
He supported Matthew Flinders
in his explorations of the
Australian coast.
A founder of Kew Gardens.
PRESIDENT OF THE
ROYAL SOCIETY
1778-1820
Erected by the Britain Australia Society
of Lincolnshire
and unveiled by H.E. Philip Flood AO
High Commissioner for Australia
on 26 May 2000.
GPS Coordinates: 53.230688, -0.540579
References:
Cook’s Log, page 1686, vol. 22, no. 4 (1999)
Cook’s Log, page 1728, vol. 23, no. 2 (2000)
Cook’s Log, pages 1743 & 1761, vol. 23, no. 3 (2000)
Cook’s Log, page 26, vol. 34, no. 2 (2011)