Aboriginal people had inhabited the Australian continent for thousands of years before the accidental arrival of Europeans on its shores. Though many Europeans did believe in the existence of a southern land (Terra Australis, Latin for South Land), which would balance the landmasses in the northern hemisphere.
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| Gerard de Jode, Universi Orbis seu Terreni Globi, 1578. This is a copy on one sheet of Abraham Ortelius' eight-sheet Typus Orbis Terrarum, 1564. The Terra Australis is shown extending northward as far as New Guinea |
The Italian, Ludovico di Varthema, who travelled about the globe between 1503 to 1508, was aboard a Javanese ship when he asked the captain about the existence of land to the south of Indonesia. The captain said that there was land to the south, though he had never seen it himself. This land is believed to be Australia.
Another man, named Manuel Godinho de Erédia, who was a Malay-Portuguese writer and cartographer, who had written several books, wrote of his interest in exploring a "southern land", thought to be Australia.
Gold?
However, Willem Janszoon (1570-1630), who was also known by the name Willem Jansz, was the first known European to see the Australian coast. Janszoon, who was a Dutch navigator and the captain of the small boat, Duyfken, was interested in investigating rumours that a “great store of gold" could be found on the land of New Guinea.
However, Willem Janszoon (1570-1630), who was also known by the name Willem Jansz, was the first known European to see the Australian coast. Janszoon, who was a Dutch navigator and the captain of the small boat, Duyfken, was interested in investigating rumours that a “great store of gold" could be found on the land of New Guinea.
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| Relica of the Duyfkenunder, Rupert Gerritsen |
The Duyfken set off on the journey but ended up travelling alongside the Australian, western coast of Cape York and landing near the town now known as Weipa. Janszoon then continued to chart the coastline for another 320km, believing the land was part of New Guinea.
On this voyage, the crew of the Duyfken clashed with the Aboriginal people of Cape York and a number of them died. An English, East Indies Company representative, Captain Saris reported:
On this voyage, the crew of the Duyfken clashed with the Aboriginal people of Cape York and a number of them died. An English, East Indies Company representative, Captain Saris reported:
“Flemmings Pinnasse which went upon discovery for Nova Ginny, was returned to Banda, having found the Island: but in sending their men on shore to intreate of Trade, there were nine of them killed by the Heathens, which are man-eaters: so they were constrained to return, finding no good to be done there.”
Janszoon, it seems, was more concerned with commerce than with discovery and since the Aboriginal people were uninterested in trade and were not friendly, he decided to return to Bantam (in Indonesia). So it was not until 1770, that the unknown southern land would be identified as a separate continent, by Captain James Cook.
Janszoon, it seems, was more concerned with commerce than with discovery and since the Aboriginal people were uninterested in trade and were not friendly, he decided to return to Bantam (in Indonesia). So it was not until 1770, that the unknown southern land would be identified as a separate continent, by Captain James Cook.
