Logical Developments Brings Dutch Colonial Archives to Life
The Western Australian Maritime Museum faced a daunting challenge - how to make an extensive collection of Dutch colonial archives accessible to the public and researchers? These historical documents, written in flowing 17th century script, contained invaluable insights into early interactions between Dutch explorers and the Australian continent. From observations of native flora and fauna to first-hand accounts of encounters with Indigenous communities, the archives offered a unique window into Australia's past. However, integrating the original scanned journal pages, transcriptions, and translations proved to be a complex technical hurdle.
That's where Logical Developments stepped in. Through a collaborative partnership, the Logical Developments team developed a custom software solution that brought the museum's archives into the digital age.
"The problem was that we couldn't find a simple solution that would do what we wanted," explains Jeremy Green, Head of Maritime Archaeology at the WA Museum. "We were scratching around trying to find somebody who could tackle this unique challenge, and then Logical Developments came along and solved it."