In 1798, George Bass and Matthew Flinders circumnavigated Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania, Australia's island state) in the sloop Norfolk, proving that it was an island.
This was Matthew Flinders. Matthew Flinders's circumnavigation of Australia was undertaken between December 1801 and June 1803. On this journey, he discovered that Australia was a single continent, and not split by a large gulf or river, as had been theorised.
* Flinders Island in Bass Strait In South Australia: * Flinders Mountain Range * Flinders Ranges National Park * Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island * Flinders University * the suburb of Flinders Park * Flinders Highway In Queensland * also another Flinders Highway * the Ipswich suburb of Flinders View * Flinders River, the longest river in Queensland In Victoria * the Melbourne suburb of Flinders * Federal electorate of Flinders In Western Australia: * Flinders Bay In NSW: * Bass and Flinders Point Throughout Australia, there are also many streets and schools named after Matthew Flinders.
Matthew Flinders had at least one younger brother Samuel Ward Flinders who also entered the Royal Navy. On Matthew Flinders main voyage to chart and circumnavigate the Australian continent, Samuel accompanied his older brother as 2nd Lieutenant. Flinders also had 2 younger step-sisters: Susan and Hannah.
Matthew Flinders and George Bass proved Van Diemen's Land was an island by circumnavigating it in the Tom Thumb.
George Bass is important to Australia because he did a great deal to fill in the gaps in knowledge of Australia's southeastern coastline. In 1798, Bass explored along the southern coast of what later became the colony of Victoria. His journeys led him to the belief that Van Diemen's Land (later Tasmania) was separate from the mainland. Governor Hunter wished for this theory to be proven conclusively, so he commissioned Flinders and Bass to circumnavigate Van Diemen's Land. By January 1799, they had completed their circumnavigation of the island. Governor Hunter subsequently named the stretch of water between the mainland and Van Diemen's Land as "Bass's Strait", later to be known as Bass Strait.
Matthew Flinders was the first known European to circumnavigate Australia.
Explorers George Bass and Matthew Flinders were the first to circumnavigate what was then known as Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania).
This was Matthew Flinders. Matthew Flinders's circumnavigation of Australia was undertaken between December 1801 and June 1803. On this journey, he discovered that Australia was a single continent, and not split by a large gulf or river, as had been theorised.
Together with George Bass, Matthew Flinders completed much sea exploration around Australia, adding to the knowledge of the coastline, and producing accurate maps. Flinders, together with Bass, was the first to prove that Van Diemen's Land, or Tasmania, was an island and not connected to the mainland. Flinders was also the first to circumnavigate the continent, and between December 1801 and June 1803, he charted most of the coastline of Australia.
Matthew Flinders circumnavigated the entire continent of Australia in 1801-1802.
Circumnavigate Australia
1798
Matthew Flinders circumnavigated the entire coastline of Australia between December 1801 and June 1803.
Matthew Flinders was the first person to circumnavigate Australia, which he did between December 1801 and June 1803.
Captain Matthew Flinders was the first person to circumnavigate Australia and declare it a continent. He married Ann Chappelle in 1801.
Captain Matthew Flinders was the first person to circumnavigate Australia and declare it a continent. He married Ann Chappelle in 1801.
Individually, George Bass and Matthew Flinders were early sea explorers who explored and charted various parts of the Australian coastline, with Flinders being the first to circumnavigate the continent. Together, Bass and Flinders also charted sections of Australia's coastline, adding valuable information to the maps of the time. In 1798, Bass's explorations along the southern coast of what would later become the colony of Victoria led him to the belief that Van Diemen's Land (later Tasmania) was separate from the mainland. Governor Hunter wished for this theory to be proven conclusively, so he commissioned Bass and Flinders to circumnavigate Van Diemen's Land, which they did between October 1798 and January 1799. Their exploration was well-received, because it meant that ships sailing to Sydney along usual routes could shave a full week off their journey by travelling through Bass Strait rather than south of Tasmania. Flinders later became especially important for his complete circumnavigation of the Australian continent. This, too, was vital for the information it provided for future settlement along Australia's coast - particularly in the south.