The document summarizes the origin and history of the name "Australia" and the early European exploration of the continent. It notes that Australia comes from the Latin word meaning "southern" and was commonly referenced in medieval times. The first undisputed European sighting was by the Dutch in 1606, who explored parts of the northern coast but were attacked by Aboriginal people. Later, Tasmania was discovered by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 and claimed for the Netherlands. The British began exploring Australia in the late 17th century and in 1770 Captain James Cook mapped the east coast and claimed it for Britain, naming it New South Wales.

1. Australia is Discovered

2. Origin and History of the Name
• Australia comes from the Latin word
Australis, which means “of the south” or
“southern.”

3. Origin and history of the name
• Legends of an “unknown land of the
south” (terra australias incognita) were
common as far back as Roman times.

4. Origin and history of the name
• References to Australia were common in
medieval geography.
• There was no evidence at the
time of Australia.
• The Dutch East India official
called the newly discovered
land (1638) Australische.
• The first use of the word
“Australia” in English was
in 1693.

5. European Exploration
• Many Europeans claimed to be the first to
discover Australia.
– French navigator Binot Paulimer de
Gonneville in 1504 (actually landed in Brazil)
– Spanish expedition commanded by Pedro
Fernandez de Quiros and piloted by Luis vaez
de Torres in 1605 (actually landed in New
Hebrides, now known as Vanuatu)
– Portuguese expedition led by Cristóvão de
Mendonça in 1522
• None can be confirmed.

6. The Dutch
• The first undisputed European sighting occurred
in 1606 by the Dutch.
• The Dutch vessel Duyfken,
captained by Willem Janszoon,
explored the coast of the Gulf
of Carpentaria.
• They Dutch made one landing,
were promptly attacked by the
Aborigines, and abandoned
further exploration.

7. The Dutch
• The Dutch charted all of the western and
northern coastlines of “New Holland”.
• On November 24, 1642 , Abel
Tasman discovered Tasmania
which he named
Van Diemen’s Land.
• Van Diemen was the head
the Dutch East India
Company, Tasman’s employer.
• Tasman claimed Van Diemen’s Land for the
Netherlands.

8. The British
• The first Englishman to see Australia was
William Dampier, a former pirate.
• He made two voyages around Australia (in
1688 and 1699) before returning
to England.
• He was the first European
to report
Australia’s unusual,
large, hopping animals

10. The British
• In 1770, Captain James Cook sailed along
and mapped the east coast of Australia.
He named it New South Wales and
claimed it for Britain.
It
became
a
prison