Abel Tasman first anchored just north of a small island in the southern part of this large bay in 1642, and landed in the area he named Frederick Henricx Bay (now Blackman Bay). The bay was later named after the Frenchman Marion du Fresne, who arrived in his ship the "Mascarin" with the "Marquis de Castries" in March 1772. Marion recorded that "One sailor found numbers of crayfish, lobsters and huge crabs,and the oysters there are good and abundant"
Marion’s landing is the first recorded sighting and description of the Tasmanian people by Europeans, unfortunately one of the Tasmanians was shot dead by Marion‘s men. Marion then sailed to New Zealand where he was killed by Māori in the Bay of Islands.
Marion’s landing is the first recorded sighting and description of the Tasmanian people by Europeans, unfortunately one of the Tasmanians was shot dead by Marion‘s men. Marion then sailed to New Zealand where he was killed by Māori in the Bay of Islands.
