His writings and drawings so captivated the imagination of his fellow countrymen that the Royal Navy assigned him a ship and commissioned him to make a voyage of exploration to New Holland, as Australia was then known.
Dampieri kirjutised ja joonistused paelusid tema kaasmaalasi sedavõrd, et ta sai Briti mereväelt enda käsutusse laeva ning talle anti ülesandeks uurida Uus - Hollandit, nagu Austraaliat tollal nimetati.