A Thread in Which Banter Most Random is Expulsed Into Existence, By Ravens_cry #142

[Cogwheel]

No real answer. Plenty of people did, but if you mean Europeans?

There are claims that Portugal did so first in the 1500s, but Portugal has no records to prove this.

Willem Jansz (Dutch) landed on the west shore of Cape York peninsula in 1606 (26th of february) but thought it was part of New Guinea.

Another Dutch captain, Dirk Hartog, accidentally landed on Cape Inscription, Shark Bay, in 1616 (25th october). Pretty sure he didn't think it was Australia either.

James Cook, before he was a captain, discovered it in 1770 (late to the party, I know) and claimed it for Britain. Since he charted some of the coasts, he's often mistakenly credited with discovering it.


Why yes, I do like history. Did have to google some of the dates, though. Got a horrible memory for those. And names.



Edit: Curse you Eadiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin.

I need to start elaborating less