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European History

Naval Explorers

1606: Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon becomes first European to map parts of the Australian coast

 

1616: Dutch navigator Dirk Hartog lands on the island off Western Australia that now bears his name

 

1629: Dutch vessel Batavia wrecks off Western Australia resulting in mass murder and the marooning of two men on the mainland

 

1644 Tasman establishes that the Australian continent is not part of the Great Southern Land Mass.

 

1699: William Dampier becomes the first Englishman to explore parts of the Australian coastline

 

1770: Lieutenant James Cook claims east coast of Australia for Britain

 

1788: Captain Arthur Phillip establishes a convict settlement at Sydney Cove

First Europeans to sight Victor Harbor more than 200 years ago were Captain Matthew Flinders of the British sloop Investigator and Captain Nicholas Baudin of the French ship Le Geographé. 

https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/terra-australis-australia/matthew-flinders-journeys

paionting Flindrs and Baudin Meet.png

 Their meeting took place at sea in 1802, a few kilometres from the Murray Mouth. Although their countries were at war, they exchanged information and maps.

http://www.slsa.ha.sa.gov.au/encounter/baudin/published.htm

 

Flinders and Baudin.jpg

Nicolas Baudin 1754-1803      Matthew Flinders 1774-1814

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