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Who actually discovered Australia?
The first known landing in Australia by Europeans was in 1606 by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon. Later that year, Spanish explorer Luís Vaz de Torres sailed through, and navigated, what is now called Torres Strait and associated islands.
Did Cook discover Australia?
After observing the transit of Venus in Tahiti and mapping the North and South Islands of New Zealand, the Endeavour sailed west. The crew first sighted the mainland of Australia on 19 April 1770. James Cook and some of his crew landed at Kamay Botany Bay on 29 April 1770.
What did the Spanish call Australia?
The investigation indicates that it was not until 1531, when the French cartographer Oronce Fine established in his maps an imaginary continent that he called Terra Australis, which in Latin means “land of the south” or “land of the southern winds.”
Who was king when Australia was discovered?
King George III
The development of a distinctly Australian monarchy came about through a complex set of incremental events, beginning in 1770, when Captain James Cook, in the name of, and under instruction from, King George III, claimed the east coast of Australia.
Who found New Zealand?
explorer Abel Tasman
The dutch explorer Abel Tasman is officially recognised as the first European to ‘discover’ New Zealand in 1642. His men were the first Europeans to have a confirmed encounter with Māori.
Who was the first European to discover Australia?
The European exploration of Australia began at least as early as 1605–1606, when seafarers first 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.
Who were the first humans that lived in Australia?
People have lived in Australia for over 65,000 years. The first people who arrived in Australia were the Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders .. They lived in all parts of Australia. They lived by hunting, fishing and gathering. Aborigines invented tools like the boomerang and spear.
Who is a famous person from Australia?
Famous People from Australia – Russell Crowe. Russell Crowe is an Australian actor born in New Zealand. He lived in Australia as a child, moved back to New Zealand as a teenager and returned to Sydney as a young man.
Who gave Australia its name?
It was the English explorer Matthew Flinders who made the suggestion of the name we use today. He was the first to circumnavigate the continent in 1803, and used the name ‘Australia’ to describe the continent on a hand drawn map in 1804. The National Library holds a reproduction.