Life-size bronze statue of naval explorer Matthew Flinders to be erected at London's Euston station Sculptor Mark Richards with a small replica version of his Matthew Flinders statue at London's Euston Station. Picture: Andre Camara Source: Supplied MATTHEW Flinders, the first explorer to fully map South Australia's coastline, will be honoured with a life-size bronze statue at one of Britain's busiest train stations. Flinders became the first person to circumnavigate the "Great Southern Land" in the early 19th century and was the first person to name the continent as "Australia." The South Australian influence of the scientist and navigator, who died in 1814 aged 40, can still be seen throughout the state, with a university, mountain range and streets named in his honour. He also named many of SA's best-known landmarks, including Mt Lofty and Kangaroo Island. But his exploits are relatively little-known in his homeland, due largely to the fact he was held prisoner by the French on Mauritius between 1803 and 1810, and his maps and books were not published until the year of his death. Today, it was revealed another tribute has been bestowed on him, after Australian diplomats in London announced a life-size bronze statue will be built at a major train station in London. The memorial, believed to cost Pound90,000 ($150,000), will be situated on the new concourse of Euston Station, in north London, where Flinders' remains are thought to be buried under platform four or five. The sculpture, depicting a working Matthew Flinders in action over a stylised map of Australia surrounded by the tools of his trade and his pet cat Trim, will be publicly unveiled on the 200th anniversary of his death next year on July 19. Mark Richards, considered one of the United Kingdom's leading portrait sculptors, has been commissioned as the artist. He has also created 75 miniature statutes, costing Pound4500 ($7531) each, which will be used to raise the money for the project's cost. Officials said the statue is based on an "accurate, highly educational and thoroughly accessible interpretation of Matthew Flinders and his connection to Australia." Picture: Andre Camara Last night, former South Australian Premier Mike Rann, who is now Australia's UK High Commissioner, hosted a private event where he announced details of the project. A similar event will take place at Flinders University's premises in Victoria Square, in Adelaide's CBD, next month. The project came about after Australian embassy staff were contacted late last year by retired Naval Officer Lieutenant-Commander Peter Ashley "who requested help with commemorating the bicentenary of Matthew Flinders RN's passing." It is understood a steering committee then approached Network Rail and its former Australian chief executive Sir David Higgins with an idea to have it built at Euston. "There was something very adventurous and determined about Flinders, qualities which I consider to be very South Australian - those of triumphing against the odds," Bill Muirhead, South Australia's Agent-General, told The Advertiser today. Mr Richards today said he was honoured with his role in the "landmark commission." "Matthew Flinders' remarkable achievements are mostly unknown in the United Kingdom, and with that in mind, I see this sculpture to be as much an introduction, as it is a commemoration to his legacy," he said. Writing in a brochure outlining the project's details, Mr Rann said it was time this "great Englishman was properly honoured here in London in this way." He added: "The impact of Captain Matthew Flinders on the story of Australia is immense. Matthew Flinders left his mark on both our territory and our history, while playing a major role in navigating our future. Mr Rann wrote on Twitter today that Flinders was "central to the Australian story and to our identity." Martha Flinders-Lewis, Flinders' great-great-great-grand-daughter, said the family were "extremely supportive" of the project. She added: "We think Matthew would have approved." John Allen, the steering committee chairman, said the statue would raise awareness of Flinders' work. Flinders, who was born in the village of Donington in Lincolnshire, commanded the first ship to travel all the way around Australia between 1801 to 1803. Historians say he first coined the name "Australia" in a map of the continent in 1804. More than 100 Australian landmarks and geographical locations are named in his honour.