On Saturday the 16th of August 2014, The designers, Charles Smith and Joan Walsh-Smith met at the proposed monument site in Flinders Bay Augusta with Professor Matthew Flinders and Ted Coulter of the monument committee to survey the site.

Professor Matthew Flinders and Ted Coulter on Outlook at Flinders Bay

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Patron Prof. Matthew Flinders and Russell Simpson Project Co-orinadtor

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Professor Matthew Flinders has generously accepted the honour to become Patron of the Matthew Flinders Monument.

“I am 100 per cent committed to the project and am very happy to plan ahead for next year so that we can maximise the opportunities”

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2m high ‘stand alone’ Promotional Banner recently created for the Project

The Proposed Matthew Flinders Monument in Augusta has received major support from the organisors of the The Matthew Flinders Memorial Statue recently unveiled at Euston Station, London by HRH The Duke of Cambridge on 18th July 2014. The Organisors of the event were so impressed with our concept in Augusta, that they featured it as a full page article in the official booklet for their London dedication.

This firmly establishes a direct connection between England from where he left and Cape Leeuwin, Augusta in Western Australia where he began his momentous circumnavigation of Australia and the undertaking of the first complete mapping of the continent.

Matthew Flinders also named, what had been called Terra Australis, up to then ‘ Australia ‘

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Exciting news, the official launch for the Matthew Flinders Monument will be held on the weekend 15th-17th August.

We will have a very special guest attending the launch, it bodes very well for this iconic project…..

Russell Simpson, at the Augusta CRC, has launched a facebook page for the project, please share it amongst your facebook friends!!

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Augusta-Margaret River Times

REBECCA PARISH Augusta-Margaret River Times January 6, 2014, 12:43 pm

…  Plans are underway for a 20-metre tall memorial to honour Matthew Flinders at the new Augusta boat harbour.

Costs for the proposed monument were initially estimated at $1.8 million.

Augusta Community Resource Centre co-ordinator Russell Simpson had the initial idea for the project three years ago.

Since then, Mr Simpson said he wanted to see something permanent and iconic for the area.

“Matthew Flinders was one of the greatest navigators that ever lived, ” he said. “We’re not paying respect yet for what he did for the area.”

The concept designs for the memorial were created by Smiths Sculptors who had designed and created historical monuments including the National Memorial to the Australian Army in Canberra, and the HMAS Sydney II memorial in Geraldton. Smith Sculptors’ Charles Smith and Joan Walsh-Smith also bought several journals of Matthew Flinders from the WA Government before developing the concept with Mr Simpson.

Augusta Chamber of Commerce president Doug Thompson said the concept designs were magnificent and he believes the project will get off the ground.

“I have lots of confidence in it and the people behind it, ” he said.

“As far as Augusta and the South West go, I believe it will be a great project.”

The project has received support from organisations including the South West Development Commission and the concept is awaiting approvals from the Department of Transport.

Mr Simpson said Terry Redman, Nola Marino, Barry House and Colin Holt had all been briefed on the project. “Its all going to start happening soon so we’re getting very excited about the prospect, ” said Mrs Walsh-Smith.

Mr Simpson said he was happy to have Smith Sculptors working on the project as they were “the best in the business”.

Concept designs include the use of solar-powered lighting and various stories about Flinders from his journals will be etched into the marine-grade stainless steel.

The detailed concept designs for the memorial are shown in the Augusta Community Resource Centre and Mr Simpson said those who have seen the designs, have liked it.

“It’s early days yet and we are looking forward to 2014 and taking it further, ” he said.

Matthew Flinders was one of the greatest navigators that ever lived. We’re not paying respect yet for what he did for the area. Russell Simpson

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