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Aborigines had been in western Australia for thousands of years, and Malay traders had been landing on the far northern coast, collecting sea slugs to trade with China, for many years.

The western coast of Terra Australis Incognito is believed to have first been sighted by Portuguese sailors. However, the first recorded sighting of Australia's western coastline came in 1611, when Dutch mariner Hendrik Brouwer experimented with a different route to the Dutch East Indies. Within a few years, Dutch sea-captain Dirk Hartog sailed too far whilst trying out Henderik Brouwer's recently discovered route from the Cape of Good Hope to Batavia, via the Roaring Forties. Reaching the western coast of Australia, he landed at Cape Inscription on 25 October 1616. Further Dutch sightings of Australia followed as the route became more popular: hence the early name of "New Holland".

Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh named the Swan River in 1697 because of the black swans he saw in abundance there. In 1826, Edmund Lockyer was sent to claim the western half of the Australian continent for Britain. He arrived at King George Sound on Christmas Day in 1826, and established a military base which he named Frederick's Town (now Albany).

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Q: Who discovered Western Australia?
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Wave Rock is near Hyden in Western Australia.


When were the Bungle Bungles discovered?

The Bungle Bungle ranges in northwest Western Australia were discovered only as recently as 1983.


When did dirk Hartog discovered Australia?

Dirk Hartog was blown onto the shores of Western Australia in 1616. However, he was not the one who discovered Australia. The Australian Aborigines and the Macassan sea traders from Asia had already discovered the continent.Hartog was not even the first European to discover Australia. He had been preceded in 1606 by Willem Jansz.


Did Charles Sturt discover Shark Bay in Western Australia?

No. Charles Sturt did not travel to Western Australia. Shark Bay was "officially" discovered by Dirk Hartog, who landed there in October 1616.


When was Western Australia discovered and by who?

Credit for the discovery of Western Australia is usually given to Dutch sea-captain Dirk Hartog. In 1616, he sailed too far whilst trying out Henderik Brouwer's recently discovered route from the Cape of Good Hope to Batavia, via the Roaring Forties. Reaching the western coast of Australia, he landed at Cape Inscription in Shark Bay on 25 October 1616. His is the first known record of a European visiting Western Australia's shores.


Does western Australia export gas?

Yes, shelf gas was discovered in 1971and export began in 1989.


Why is Western Australia called Western Australia?

Because it is the western part of Australia


When did John Forrest discover Australia?

John Forrest didn't discover Australia. (Nor did Captain Cook, a commonly believed myth.) John Forrest was an Australian explorer from Western Australia. He also became the first Premier of Western Australia. For details on who actually discovered Australia, see the related question.


When. And by who was Australia discovered?

Credit for the discovery of Western Australia is usually given to Dutch sea-captain Dirk Hartog. In 1616, he sailed too far whilst trying out Henderik Brouwer's recently discovered route from the Cape of Good Hope to Batavia, via the Roaring Forties. Reaching the western coast of Australia, he landed at Cape Inscription in Shark Bay on 25 October 1616. His is the first known record of a European visiting Western Australia's shores.


Did Captain Cook discover Western Australia?

No, he sailed first to the southeatsern corner of Australia. The first person that could be said to have discovered the west coast of Australia would be Dirk Hartog in 1616.


Was Kangaroo Island discovered before South Australia?

No. Whilst Kangaroo Island was the first region settled in South Australia, it was not discovered first. Kangaroo Island was discovered by Matthew Flinders in 1802. Various early Dutch explorers ventured into South Australia's western coastline during the 1600s. South Australia could be said to have been discovered in 1627, when Thijssen recorded the first observations of the South Australian coast.


Did dirk hartog discover Australia?

Dirk Hartog was blown onto the shores of Western Australia in 1616. However, he was not the one who discovered Australia. The Australian Aborigines and the Macassan sea traders from Asia had already discovered the continent.Hartog was not even the first European to discover Australia. He had been preceded in 1606 by Willem Jansz.