BA2493/1755: Sculpture of Thomas Timothee Vasse by Russell Sheridan at the entrance to Vasse, 24 April 2018

Summary

Photographer's notes: Sculpture of Thomas Timothee Vasse at the Vasse Village entry, located at the intersection of Napoleon Promenade and Northerly Street, opposite the roundabout. It was created by artist Russell Sheridan who is a Dardanup local. The township is named Vasse in homage to French sailor Thomas Timothee Vasse who was rumoured to have drowned off the nearby coast in 1801. Vasse was a helmsman second class on the Naturaliste during the 1801–04 expedition of the Géographe and Naturaliste ships commandeered by Nicolas Baudin, which explored much of the south west coast of New Holland (now Western Australia). Several stories emerged thereafter that claimed Thomas Timothee Vasse had survived, one of which was provided by the Wardandi people. The 6.5m high sculpture of the early explorer was purchased for $80,000 by the local shire. Photographed 24th April 2018, by Philip Gostelow