The 'discovery' of Australia by Europeans began when the Dutch, sailing the ship *Duyfken*, first sighted the mainland in 1606. However, Aboriginal peoples had been living there for up to 60,000 years before any European ships arrived! Learn about the race to map this massive land.
Imagine sailing across a huge, mysterious ocean for months, not knowing what you’ll find! What if you stumbled upon a whole continent no one in your home country knew about?
That’s exactly what happened when Europeans sailed to find the land we now call Australia! But here’s a secret: people were already living there! The ancestors of Aboriginal peoples first arrived in Australia an incredible 40,000 to 60,000 years ago! They were expert seafarers who crossed huge distances. For Europeans, though, the continent was often called *Terra Australis Incognita*, or the 'Unknown Southern Continent,' because they thought a giant landmass *had* to exist down south to balance the map! When we talk about who 'discovered' Australia, we usually mean the first Europeans who saw its shores. Get ready to meet the Dutch sailors and the famous British Captain who raced to chart this massive, amazing island-continent!
Mira says:
"Wow, Finn! It's wild to think that the Dutch ships mapped two-thirds of the coast before Captain Cook even sailed into view! They named it 'New Holland,' but never decided to stay. It sounds like a giant, awesome game of hide-and-seek!"
What Was the Very First European Sighting?
The very first time a European ship officially saw the Australian mainland was in 1606! This moment belongs to the Dutch explorers, who were sailing for the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
The ship was called the *Duyfken*, which means 'Little Dove,' and it was commanded by Captain Willem Janszoon.
Janszoon was sailing from what is now Indonesia, looking for new trade lands. He actually landed on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, thinking it might just be part of New Guinea!
Mind-Blowing Fact!
Captain Janszoon and his crew were the very first Europeans to actually meet the Indigenous Aboriginal people of Australia near the Pennefather River!
The Dutch Charting Boom: New Holland Takes Shape
After Janszoon's trip, the Dutch kept exploring the edges of this new land. For over 150 years, Dutch sailors mapped huge parts of the coastline!
In 1616, another Dutch explorer named Dirk Hartog accidentally landed on an island off Western Australia after being blown off course.
Later, in the 1640s, Abel Tasman discovered the island south of the mainland and named it Van Diemen’s Land—which we now call Tasmania!
(Willem Janszoon)
(William Dampier)
(Claimed for Britain)
How Did Captain Cook Change Everything?
Even though the Dutch had mapped the western, northern, and southern coasts (calling it 'New Holland'), the entire east coast was still a complete mystery to Europe!
That changed in 1770 with the British explorer Lieutenant James Cook aboard his ship, HMS *Endeavour*.
Cook's Famous Journey East
Cook first sighted the southeastern coast on April 19, 1770, at a spot he named Point Hicks.
Ten days later, on April 29, 1770, Cook and his crew made their first landing on the east coast at a harbor they named Botany Bay because the scientists on board were amazed by the huge variety of plants they found!
Cook then sailed his ship all the way up the entire eastern coast, carefully charting everything. He even had a few scary moments navigating the massive Great Barrier Reef!
💡 Did You Know?
When Captain Cook claimed the east coast for Great Britain, he named it 'New South Wales.' This was the part of Australia that the British later used to start their first colony!
🎯 Quick Quiz!
What name did the Dutch explorers give to the continent after charting much of its coast in the 1600s?
Who Really 'Discovered' Australia First?
It’s tricky, right? We have to remember two big groups!
First, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been living in Australia for tens of thousands of years—they are the *true* first discoverers and settlers!
Second, among the Europeans, the Dutch were first to land in 1606 with Janszoon, charting the west and north. But it was Captain Cook who explored the east coast in 1770, which led to the British settling the continent later on.
- Indigenous Australians: Arrived between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago and explored the entire landmass.
- Willem Janszoon (Dutch): First European to land on the mainland in 1606 on the Cape York Peninsula.
- James Cook (British): First European to map the East Coast in 1770 and claim it for Britain.
Another cool fact for you! The first *known* person born in Australia to sail all the way around the continent was a man named Bungaree, who joined Matthew Flinders' expedition in the early 1800s! History is full of amazing explorers!
Questions Kids Ask About Explorers
Keep Exploring the World's Map!
From the ancient journeys of the first Australians to the brave European sailors navigating treacherous seas, the story of Australia’s discovery is a wild adventure! Every explorer faced challenges, but their maps helped us learn about our amazing world. Keep your curiosity sharp, because history is always waiting to be discovered!
