Lesson+two


 * Explorers before the British**

- In groups, research early explorers of Australia and produce an information report on each, eg Jansz, Torres,Hartog,Tasman. - Choose one of these explores and use the internet to find some more information on them, as well as a map of how they charted Australia.

Willem Jansz:
Willem Jansz, a Dutchman, was the first European to set his foot on The Great South Land. In 1603, Willem Jansz sailed his ship, the'//Duyfken'// to the western edge of Cape York Peninsula. Jansz was the first European to make contact with the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. After his crew was killed by Aboriginal people, Jansz suggested that the land should be avoided.

Luiz Vaez de Torres:
Torres Strait was named after Luiz Vaez de Torres, a navigator from the Spanish navy. In 1607 Luiz Vaez de Torres received orders from the Viceroy of Peru to sail westward and then head 20 degrees south latitude. Torres was then to turn north to Manila, then to sail across the Indian Ocean around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and back to Spain. When reaching New Guinea at 21 degrees south latitude, Torres tried to pass to the north off the east coast of New Guinea. Torres was unable to follow that route, so he sailed westward along the southern coast of New Guinea. Torres then passed through the waters now known as Torres Strait which is when he saw the Torres Strait Islands.

Dirk Hartog:
Dirk Hartog discovered the west coast of Australia in 1616. In 1616 the ship'Eendracht', captained by Dirk Hartog, was the second Dutch vessel to land on the continent. Dirk Hartog with his sailors were trying to discover a way to reduce the time it took to sail across the Indian Ocean to the Spice islands (also called the East Indies). While trying to sail from Holland to Java, Hartog overran his easterly course. He instead found the west coast of Australia near Shark Bay and landed on an island. The island Hartog landed on is now called Dirk Hartog Island. Hartog spent three days exploring these islands and when he left, he fixed a pewter plate to a post. On the plate he had etched a record of the date of his visit.

Abel Tasman:
Abel Tasman was an experienced Dutch sea captain who discovered Tasmania in 1642. Appointed by the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Tasman led an expedition to explore the world's southern regions. The journey began in Batavia (present-day Jakarta) on 14 August 1642. On the afternoon of 24 November 1642, Tasman was excited to see a mountainous land appear on the horizon. He thought he had finally discovered The Great South Land. Tasman and his crew travelled south and charted the coast of what is today Tasmania. Tasman named the island Van Diemen's Land after Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General who had commissioned his voyage. Tasman claimed Van Diemen's Land for The Netherlands.