Matthew Flinders arrived in Australia in the 1790s and commenced exploring and charting the coast of the continent. Together with George Bass, he circumnavigated Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), proving it was an island separate from the mainland. Between December 1801 and June 1803, Flinders charted the entire coastline of Australia, adding valuable information to the maps of the time. Australia was previously known as New Holland, and Flinders first proposed the name "Terra Australis", which became "Australia", the name adopted in 1824.
The main legacy of Matthew Flinders is the fact that Australia bears the name it has today. Flinders was the one who suggested the name, and this was adopted in 1824, tenyears after his death. A less tangible legacy is the fact that he is remembered for being the first to circumnavigate the entire continent of Australia, and to prove conclusively that it was a single continent, not a series of large islands.
Further legacy can be found in the many things named after Matthew Flinders:
In South Australia:
In Queensland
In Victoria
In Western Australia:
In NSW:
Throughout Australia, there are also many streets and schools named after Matthew Flinders.
The main purpose for Matthew Flinders' exploration of Australia was to chart the coastline more accurately. This included determining whether Tasmania was an island or part of the mainland. Flinders was also motivated by the reports from Captain Cook's journeys, and the sense of adventure and discovery he felt when he read "Robinson Crusoe" as a child.
Matthew Flinders is important because he made a significant contribution to the exploration and mapping of the Australian continent. He explored and charted the coast north and south of Sydney. Between December 1801 and June 1803, Flinders circumnavigated and charted the entire coastline of Australia, filling in the gaps of what was known about the continent. He was also the one who suggested the name Australia for the continent.
Some of his exploration and discoveries were as follows:
Matthew Flinders decided to explore places when he read Robinson Crusoe books. While it is true that the novel "Robinson Crusoe" inspired Matthew Flinders to become an explorer, there was more to it than that. He was also inspired by the journals of Captain James Cook. Matthew Flinders circumnavigated Australia, meaning he explored the coastline, for the purpose of filling in the gaps of the charts and maps made by previous explorers. In doing so, he was to note any other sites that might be used for future colonies.
Matthew Flinders was an explorer for the love of it, and he sought adventure. He circumnavigated Australia, meaning he explored the coastline, for the purpose of filling in the gaps of the charts and maps made by previous explorers. In doing so, he was to note any other sites that might be used for future colonies. In addition, Flinders theorised that the continent might be split by a huge gulf or river, and he wanted to determine conclusively the nature of the continent.
Inspired by reports from Captain Cook's journeys, and wanting to be a sea adventurer and explorer after reading "Robinson Crusoe", Flinders came to Australia initially as an 18 year old Midshipman with Captain William Bligh in the "Providence", in 1792.
The practical reason for Matthew Flinders's voyages was to chart the Australian coastline and fill in the gaps left by previous English and Dutch explorers. This was the task for which he was commissioned. Personally, however, while Matthew Flinders was inspired by reports of Captain James Cook's voyages, it was after reading Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" that he decided he wanted to be an explorer and sailor.
Matthew Flinders named many places, among them the following: * On 17 July 1799, Matthew Flinders landed at and named Red Cliff Point, now Woody Point and a suburb of Redcliffe, north of Brisbane. * James Cook had named "Glass House Bay", which Flinders renamed Moreton Bay in 1799. As he sailed out of the bay, he also named Moreton Island, because he believed Cook would have done so, had he realised it was an island and not part of the mainland. * Also in 1799, an incident with aborigines on the south western side of Bribie Island caused Flinders to name the spot Skirmish Point. * Between Bribie Island and the mainland, a large amount of pumice stone in the area led him to name Pumice Stone River, which is now known as Pumicestone Passage * On 28 January 1802, Flinders anchored in Fowler's Bay on the southern coast, and described it as "a well sheltered cove affording wood and water". He named it after his first lieutenant, Robert Fowler. * On 24 February 1802, Flinders and his crew discovered Port Lincoln, on the southern end of what later became known as the Eyre Peninsula. Flinders wrote that he named it in honour of his native province. * On 8 August 1802, Flinders discovered an excellent harbour, sheltered and deep, on what is now the central Queensland coast. He named it Port Curtis after Admiral Sir Roger Curtis, commander-in-chief at the Cape of Good Hope. The port city of Gladstone now stands at that site. * Australia was previously known as New Holland, and Flinders first proposed the name "Terra Australis", which became "Australia", the name adopted in 1824.
Many of Flinders's journeys were for the purpose of mapping the Australian continent, and filling in the gaps left by previous explorers.
Many explorers contributed to the charting of Australia. Early Dutch and Portuguese explorers drew a rough outline of Australia, and this was added to by explorers who came across the accident by accident or on purpose. James Cook charted the eastern coast in 1770, and he named many features along the coast, but did not explore every bay and inlet. Between December 1801 and June 1803, Matthew Flinders charted the entire coastline of Australia. During this time, he filled in some of the information Cook had missed, but even his meticulous detail was by no means exhaustive. In 1817, Philip Parker King was given command of an expedition to complete the exploration of the north-western coast of Australia, filling in the gaps that Flinders had not yet mapped. He was instructed to explore all gulfs, inlets and other waterways "likely to lead to an interior navigation into this great continent".In 1823, three ticket-of-leave convicts (Parsons, Pamphlett and Finnegan) led explorer John Oxley to the Brisbane River, another major feature which had been missed by the two previous seamen. Oxley did much to also add to the finer details of mapping.
Matthew Perry was sent to Japan for the purpose of negotiating a trade agreement
The purpose of a goal line is to determine if the ball crosses it for a goal.
to trade furs
commodore Matthew co. perry
he explored because he wanted to be famous