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{{about|the headland in Australia|the location for which it is named|Rame Head|other locations with similar names|Ram Head (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Rame head sign.jpg|thumb|220px|Vandalism to a track sign reflects ongoing controversy about the spelling of the name.]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
'''Rame Head''' or '''Ram Head''' ({{coord|37|46|S|149|29|E}}) is a coastal headland in eastern [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria, Australia]], within the [[Croajingolong National Park]]. Little Rame Head lies to the east, past [[Wingan Inlet]].
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
[[File:Rame head sign.jpg|thumb|220px|Vandalism to a track sign reflects ongoing controversy about the spelling of the name.]]
'''Ram Head''' or since 1970 '''Rame Head''' ({{coord|37|46|S|149|29|E}}) is a coastal headland in eastern [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria, Australia]]. It is within the [[Croajingolong National Park]].


The local [[Indigenous Australians|aboriginal people]] call the headland '''Konowee''' or '''Kouowee'''. The name Ram Head was given by Lieutenant James Cook ([[Captain Cook]]) to a point on the coast which he passed on 20 Feb 1770. He named it after [[Rame Head]] in [[Plymouth Sound]], which its shape resembled.<ref>{{gutenberg |no=8106 |name=Captain Cook's Journal During the First Voyage Round the World}}</ref>
The local [[Indigenous Australians|aboriginal people]] call the headland '''Konowee''' or '''Kouowee'''. James Cook ([[Captain Cook]]) named today's Rame Head as he passed by on 19 April 1770 [log date]. Cook named [[Rame Head]] Ram Head, after a point that can be seen going into [[Plymouth Sound]],<ref>''James Cook's manuscript Journal dated 19/4/1770''</ref>
Cook wrote the name Ram in [[Modern English]] [as used today] and that spelling was adopted by [[Aaron Arrowsmith]], [[George Bass]], [[Matthew Flinders]], [[James Grant (navigator)|James Grant]], [[Louis de Freycinet]] and even [[John Hawesworth]] when commissioned by the Admiralty to edit Cook's papers and journal<ref>''A Voyage to Terra Australis''</ref> and that spelling became official when the Admiralty published Matthew Flinders' charts, dated January and February 1814. The [[Royal Navy]] and later the [[Australian Navy]] continued to use Cook's spelling of "Ram" for the headland in Australia. In the early 1800s, while Ram Head was still being used in Australia, the British reverted to the [[Early Modern English]] spelling of "Rame" for the point in Cornwall UK.
In 1971, the [[Government of Victoria|Victorian Government]] gazetted the point as "Rame" to match its [[Cornwall|Cornish]] namesake.
[[File:From Rame Head.jpg|thumb|right|A view from partway up Rame Head, looking north along the beach towards Wingan Inlet]]


In Cook's time, Naval Charts used Cook's spelling for the Headland in Cornwall, and the small village nearby mainly used the [[New modem English]] spelling, we use today. Around 1810 the small village and Headland, in Cornwall, reverted to the [[Old Modern English]] spelling of Rame.
Cook wrote the name without an "e" and that spelling was adopted by [[George Bass|Bass]] and [[Matthew Flinders|Flinders]]<ref>{{gutenberg |no=12929 |name=A Voyage to Terra Australis by Matthew Flinders}}</ref> and became official. At some point, perhaps quite early, the [[Royal Navy]] (and later [[Royal Australian Navy]]) used the spelling Rame, while Ram continued in civilian use. In 1971, the [[Government of Victoria|Victorian Government]] gazetted it as "Rame" to match its [[Cornwall|Cornish]] namesake.
There are many grave stones in the area, dating back to the early and mid-1700s that also used "Ram".


In 1986 one of Australia's foremost maritime historians, Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Ingleton RAN – "An accomplished and fine Cartographer"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.navyhistory.org.au/obituary-geoffrey-ingleton-1908-1998/|title = Obituary: Geoffrey Ingleton 1908-1998|date = 26 June 1998}}</ref> –
[[Image:From Rame Head.jpg|thumb|right|A view from partway up Rame Head, looking north along the beach towards [[Wingan Inlet]].]]
wrote in his book ''Matthew Flinders: Navigator and Chartmaker'' [page 42]: "The coastlines of both New South Wales (the present Victoria) and Van Diemens Land (the present Tasmania) were carefully delineated by Flinders, considering the nature and quickness of the survey. Particularly interesting was Flinders' correct identification of Cook's Ram Head, so named for its similarity to Rame Head in England in the western approaches to Plymouth. Flinders was familiar with its characteristic appearance – a conical hill on a distinctive promontory. The only feature on this coast SW of Cape Howe which meets exactly that description is the present Rame Head. This historic headland is identical with that shown on Flinders' charts; further, the name was correctly spelt by Flinders."
Locals pronounce the name like "Sam", whereas the headland in Cornwall is pronounced like "same". The former reflects the initial spelling, and perhaps an idea it referred to a ram—as in a male [[sheep]]—although that is the case neither there nor in Cornwall.


There is a walking track to the "summit" of the head. However, this point lacks a clear vantage point over surrounding scrub, and is simply marked by a [[trig point]].
There is a walking track to the "summit" of the head. However, this point lacks a clear vantage point over surrounding scrub, and is simply marked by a [[trig point]].


==References==
==See also==
* Captain [[James Cook]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==References==
* [http://www.anps.mq.edu.au/documents/June_2002.pdf Placenames Australia], journal of the [[Australian National Placenames Survey]], June 2002
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051214221348/http://www.anps.mq.edu.au/documents/June_2002.pdf Placenames Australia], journal of the ''Australian National Placenames Survey'', June 2002
* [http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/gazd01?rec=252355 Rame Head] at [[Geoscience Australia]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071001005241/http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/gazd01?rec=252355 Rame Head] at [[Geoscience Australia]]

==External links==


* [http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8106 Captain Cook's Journal of the First Voyage Around the World]
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12929 ''A Voyage to Terra Australis'']
{{1stVoyageCookAus}}
{{1stVoyageCookAus}}


[[Category:Croajingolong National Park]]
[[Category:Croajingolong National Park]]
[[Category:Headlands of Victoria (Australia)]]
[[Category:Headlands of Victoria (state)]]

Latest revision as of 09:29, 7 May 2023

Vandalism to a track sign reflects ongoing controversy about the spelling of the name.

Ram Head or since 1970 Rame Head (37°46′S 149°29′E / 37.767°S 149.483°E / -37.767; 149.483) is a coastal headland in eastern Victoria, Australia. It is within the Croajingolong National Park.

The local aboriginal people call the headland Konowee or Kouowee. James Cook (Captain Cook) named today's Rame Head as he passed by on 19 April 1770 [log date]. Cook named Rame Head Ram Head, after a point that can be seen going into Plymouth Sound,[1] Cook wrote the name Ram in Modern English [as used today] and that spelling was adopted by Aaron Arrowsmith, George Bass, Matthew Flinders, James Grant, Louis de Freycinet and even John Hawesworth when commissioned by the Admiralty to edit Cook's papers and journal[2] and that spelling became official when the Admiralty published Matthew Flinders' charts, dated January and February 1814. The Royal Navy and later the Australian Navy continued to use Cook's spelling of "Ram" for the headland in Australia. In the early 1800s, while Ram Head was still being used in Australia, the British reverted to the Early Modern English spelling of "Rame" for the point in Cornwall UK. In 1971, the Victorian Government gazetted the point as "Rame" to match its Cornish namesake.

A view from partway up Rame Head, looking north along the beach towards Wingan Inlet

In Cook's time, Naval Charts used Cook's spelling for the Headland in Cornwall, and the small village nearby mainly used the New modem English spelling, we use today. Around 1810 the small village and Headland, in Cornwall, reverted to the Old Modern English spelling of Rame. There are many grave stones in the area, dating back to the early and mid-1700s that also used "Ram".

In 1986 one of Australia's foremost maritime historians, Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Ingleton RAN – "An accomplished and fine Cartographer"[3] – wrote in his book Matthew Flinders: Navigator and Chartmaker [page 42]: "The coastlines of both New South Wales (the present Victoria) and Van Diemens Land (the present Tasmania) were carefully delineated by Flinders, considering the nature and quickness of the survey. Particularly interesting was Flinders' correct identification of Cook's Ram Head, so named for its similarity to Rame Head in England in the western approaches to Plymouth. Flinders was familiar with its characteristic appearance – a conical hill on a distinctive promontory. The only feature on this coast SW of Cape Howe which meets exactly that description is the present Rame Head. This historic headland is identical with that shown on Flinders' charts; further, the name was correctly spelt by Flinders."

There is a walking track to the "summit" of the head. However, this point lacks a clear vantage point over surrounding scrub, and is simply marked by a trig point.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ James Cook's manuscript Journal dated 19/4/1770
  2. ^ A Voyage to Terra Australis
  3. ^ "Obituary: Geoffrey Ingleton 1908-1998". 26 June 1998.

References

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