The eastern islands are made up of broken corals reefs and are barren with no fresh water.
It was here on Beacon Island, where the survivors of the infamous shipwreck of theBataviawere marooned.
The other set of the Wallabi Groupthe western islandsare larger and are made up of large coral platforms.
Replica of the 17th century Batavia in Lelystad, The Netherlands.
Forty people drowned, but the rest managed to swim to the nearby Beacon Island.
But before he could act, theBataviawas wrecked.
The journey took 33 days, and extraordinarily, all aboard survived.
On arrival, Pelsaert promptly organized a rescue party and set sail once more forBatavias stranded survivors.
Hayes and the other soldiers constructed shelters and set up small pieces of sail to collect rainwater.
Hayes also organized a systematic search for water on the island.
Cornelisz saw in Hayes a potential trouble and he decided to dispose him.
Some of the women were kept alive and repeatedly raped.
The tammar wallaby, which lives only on the Wallabi islands, provided sustenance to the stranded soldiers.
At this point, Pelsaerts rescue ship arrived.
Wiebbe Hayes raced to the ship to warn the rescuers about the mutineers, and explained what had happened.
Wiebbe Hayes Fort on West Wallabi Island.
Photo:alecaus/Flickr
Pelsaert captured Cornelisz and the remaining mutineers and held an impromptu trial on the island itself.
The worst offenders were executed, while Cornelisz and several others had their hands chopped off before being hanged.
The remaining mutineers were taken to Batavia for trial.
The wreckage ofBataviawas found and salvaged in the 1970s.
Wiebbe Hayes statue in Geraldton.
Photo:The Food Pornographer/Flickr
The fort as in 2001.
Photo:Rupert Gerritsen/Wikimedia Commons
