Traces of the past

The historical sites of Tubuai

Vestiges of a rich past...

From the marae to the Bounty mutineers

Tubuai is an island rich in history, from its marae to the battles that the islanders fought against the mutineers of the Bounty. Take time to discover the passionate history of the island Tubuai.

Elodie from the Bounty Fort George association in Tubuai.

"The arrival of the Bounty mutineers left a tragic mark on Tubuai"

A ferocious battle against the Bounty mutineers

There are several archeological sites and marae on the island. It’s best to use the services of a guide to make sure that you don’t miss any of them as they are the vestiges of Tubuai’s rich and troubled past. A part of this past was the arrival of the mutineers of the Bounty, who came looking for somewhere to settle in May 1789. Fighting broke out between the mutineers and the locals, during which twelve islanders lost their lives and the bay where they arrived is now known as ‘bloody bay’.

The mutineers soon left, but they returned at the end of June 1789 and built a fort, which they named Fort George in honor of the British king, George III. The fighting soon started again, and this time 66 islanders were killed. Eventually, in September, the mutineers were forced to leave and their fort was destroyed. The site of the fort is on private land, but permission is readily granted for visits. A cultural center highlighting these tragic events in the island’s history has been opened by the Bounty Fort George association of Tubuai.