Timeline of Exploration of Australia by Europeans

  • Period: to

    Exploration of Australia by Europeans

  • Luis Van Torres

    Luis Van Torres
    Luis Van Torres sails through the Torres Strait (Spanish)
  • Willem Janszoon

    Willem Janszoon
    Willem Janszoon is the first European on Australian soil (Dutch)
  • Dirk Hartog

    Dirk Hartog
    Dirk Hartog lands on Australia's west coast (Dutch)
  • Jan Carstenszoon

    Jan Carstenszoon
    Jan Carstenszoon discovered and named the Gulf of Carpentaria (Dutch)
  • Abel Tasman

    Abel Tasman
    Abel Tasman sailed to Tasmania, Fiji, and New Zealand (Dutch)
  • William Dampier

    William Dampier
    William Dampier explores the western coast (British)
  • James Cook

    James Cook
    James Cook discovers Australia’s East Coast (British)
  • First Fleeters

    First Fleeters
    The "First Fleeters" sail to Australia (British)
  • George Bass

    George Bass
    George Bass and Matthew Flinders circumnavigate Tasmania (British)
  • Nicolas Baudin

    Nicolas Baudin
    Nicolas Baudin is first to explore and map Australia’s southern coast (French)
  • Matthew Flinders

    Matthew Flinders
    Matthew Flinders circumnavigates Australia (British)
  • Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth

    Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth
    Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth are the first to cross the Blue Mountains (British)
  • Hume and Hovell

    Hume and Hovell
    Hume and Hovell discover Murray River and much agricultural land (British)
  • Charles Sturt

    Charles Sturt
    Charles Sturt is first European to encounter the Darling River (British)
  • Paul Strelecki

    Paul Strelecki
    Paul Strzelecki ascends to Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko (Polish)
  • Burke and Wills

    Burke and Wills
    Burke and Wills travel Australia from South to North