Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) Van Diemens Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania. Landing at Blackmans Bay and later having the Dutch flag flown at North Bay, Tasman named the island Anthoonij van Diemenslandt in honour of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies who had sent Tasman on his voyage of discovery in 1642. Between 1772 and 1798 only the southeastern portion of the island was visited. Tasmania was not known to be an island until Matthew Flinders and George Bass circumnavigated it in the Norfolk in 1798-99. In 1803, the island was colonised by the British as a penal colony with the name Van Diemens Land, and became part of the British colony of New South Wales. Major-General Ralph Darling was appointed Governor of New South Wales In 1825, and in the same year he visited Hobart Town, and on December 3 proclaimed the establishment of the independent colony, of which he actually became Governor for three days. The demonym for Van Diemens Land was Van Diemonian, though contemporaries used the spelling Vandemonian, perhaps in reference to the Tasmanian Devil, or possibly as a play on words relating to the colonys penal origins. In 1803, the island was colonised by the British as a penal colony with the name Van Diemens Land, and became part of the British colony of New South Wales. Major-General Ralph Darling was appointed Governor of New South Wales In 1825, and in the same year he visited Hobart Town, and on December 3 proclaimed the establishment of the independent colony, of which he actually became Governor for three days. The demonym for Van Diemens Land was Van Diemonian, though contemporaries used the spelling Vandemonian, perhaps in reference to the Tasmanian Devil, or possibly as a play on words relating to the colonys penal origins. In 1856 the colony was granted responsible self-government with its own representative parliament, and the name of the island and colony was officially changed to Tasmania on 1 January 1856. In 1856 the colony was granted responsible self-government with its own representative parliament, and the name of the island and colony was officially changed to Tasmania on 1 January 1856.
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 09:02:01 +0000
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