Interview with Ian Forsyth - Author of A Hazardous Port

Ian Forsyth was born in Perth and enjoyed a forty-year career in international relations and economic policy before retiring from the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2008.

He served overseas as Australia’s Ambassador to the OECD in Paris; Ambassador to Turkey, Poland and the Czech Republic; Commercial Counsellor, Washington DC; and as an official in the OECD Secretariat in Paris.

Ian learned late in life that his family has some deep connections with Fremantle, including: a former convict, later a member of the Fremantle Town Trust; a mayor; a port pilot, harbour master, inaugural head of the Department of Harbour and Light, founding commanding officer of the Fremantle Naval Volunteers, and amateur artist; a master boat-builder; a hereditary knight of the realm; an engineer on SS Sultan; and another head of the Department of Harbour and Light – and, of course, their pioneering spouses.

On retirement Ian spent four years writing with his brother, Ron Forsyth, a biography of their great grandfather, Harbour Master/Captain George Forsyth, titled Captain George Forsyth mariner and first harbour master for the Colony of Western Australia, which was published in 2019 by the Maritime Heritage Association. Fremantle Shipping News was pleased to cover the launch of that book nearly 6 years ago, and to make a podcast with the authors all about it, which you will find right here.

Ian then expanded that research to write this broader history of the Port of Fremantle, A Hazardous Port: Fremantle 1600-1900, which was recently launched at the WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay, Fremantle.

Fremantle Shipping News’ Bruce Menzies, an old friend of Ian Forsyth, caught up with Ian after the launch to make this podcast (that you’ll find at the foot of this article) discussing some of what Ian learned in the course of researching and writing A Hazardous Port.

By the way, you can purchase a copy of A Hazardous Port at Chart and Map Shop, New Editions and Fremantle Arts Centre in Fremantle, and Boffins, or order from the Book Merchant right here. The RRP is $45.

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