Lieutenant John Shortland. An eye sketch of Hunter’s River. 1797. Signed J.S. [initials presumed to be those of Lieutenant John Shortland]. 1797 Lieutenant John Shortland, R.N. Lieutenant John Shortland of the H.M.S. Reliance officially “discovered” the River on the 10th September 1797 while on route to Port Stephens. The letter to his father reporting the … More Lieutenant John Shortland – Hunter’s River 1797