Who was the first Dutch explorer to reach Australia?
explorer Willem Janszoon
While Indigenous Australians have inhabited the continent for tens of thousands of years, and traded with nearby islanders, the first documented landing on Australia by a European was in 1606. The Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon landed on the western side of Cape York Peninsula and charted about 300 km of coastline.
What did Dutch explorers name Australia centuries before?
the Great South Land
For hundreds of years prior to the colonisation of Australia, there were many reports around the world of a great land mass situated to the south of Asia. It became known as the Great South Land or Terra Australis Incognita, the ‘Unknown South Land’.
Did the Dutch ever colonize Australia?
The first known landing in Australia by Europeans was in 1606 by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon. The First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788 to establish a penal colony, the first colony on the Australian mainland.
Who are some famous explorers of Australia?
Read their stories
- Robert O’Hara Burke and William Wills. The first to successfully cross the continent from South to North.
- Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
- Richard ‘Dick’ Smith AC.
- Sir Douglas Mawson OBE.
- Joseph Banks.
- Matthew Flinders.
- Ron and Valerie Taylor.
- Charles Sturt.
Why did the Dutch not claim Australia?
Tasmania (not desert) was visited and named (Van Diemen’s Land) by the great Dutch Explorer Abel Tasman. The things that Australia had too offer that were easily harvested (primarily timber) were simply not in such high demand that it was profitable to carry it in from half a world away.
What was Australia’s original name?
Terra Australis
When the map and book describing his journey was finally published in 1814 the name ‘Terra Australis’ was used instead, although Flinders stated that his preference was still ‘Australia’. You can view his General chart of Terra Australis or Australia map online.
Why is Australia not Dutch?
Cook first named the land New Wales, but revised it to New South Wales. In 1804, the British navigator Matthew Flinders proposed the names Terra Australis or Australia for the whole continent, reserving “New Holland” for the western part of the continent.
Why did the Dutch give up Australia?
Who was Dutch explorer who explored west coast of Australia?
Dutch explorers charted about two-thirds of the Australian coastline during the 17th century. In 1606, Captain William Janszoon (1570–1630) in his ship the Duyfken looked for trade and economic opportunities with Indigenous peoples. Janszoon took a route down the west coast of Cape York, naming it Cape Keer-weer.
Who was the first person to explore Australia?
Dutch navigators were the first Europeans known to have explored and mapped the Australian coastline. The first documented encounter was that of Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon, in 1606. Dutch seafarers also visited the west and north coasts of the continent, as did French explorers.
When did the Dutch first come to Australia?
Except for giving its name to the land, neither the Netherlands nor the Dutch East India Company claimed any territory in Australia as its own. Although many Dutch expeditions visited the coast during the 200 years after the first Dutch visit in 1606, there was no lasting attempt at establishment of a permanent settlement.
When did the first Europeans land in Australia?
The first documented and undisputed European sighting of and landing on Australia was in late February 1606, by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon aboard the Duyfken. Janszoon charted the Australian coast and met with Aboriginal people.