French names bestowed by the Baudin expedition along the coasts of Australia: A snapshot of French national spirit during Napoleonic times

Abstract

The coasts of Australia are bestowed with place names (toponyms) that offer great cultural insights into the Australian history and its European connections. This paper focusses on the 598 place names set up by the authors of the narratives and atlases of the French voyage of discovery captained by Nicolas Baudin who undertook the surveying and exploration of parts of the South and West coasts of New Holland, and of the east and north coasts of Van Diemen's Land between 1801 and 1803. These names have been gathered into a database where they have been categorised, for example, according to the endeavour of personalities (scientific, military, administrative among others) or members of the expedition. The article shows that the French toponyms mirror the building up after the turmoils of the French Revolution of a new national narrative which gives pride of place to the men of science, cultural figures, and military officers dear to the French emperor, Napoléon I, and whose work and actions were portrayed as great examples for the nation. This retroactive reading of the French nomenclature discloses an Australian early nineteenth century French background with around half the names still recognised today.