Aborigines had inhabited the mainland of Australia, including the western half, for many thousands of years before Europeans came, while Malay traders had also discovered the west, landing on the far northern coast, collecting trepang (sea slugs) to trade with China, for hundreds of years before Europeans.
The western coast of the continent that was then known by Europeans as Terra Australis Incognita is believed to have first been sighted by Portuguese sailors. However, no records still exist to substantiate this claim.
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. However, actual 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 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.
Wave Rock is near Hyden in Western Australia.
The Bungle Bungle ranges in northwest Western Australia were discovered only as recently as 1983.
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.
No. Charles Sturt did not travel to Western Australia. Shark Bay was "officially" discovered by Dirk Hartog, who landed there in October 1616.
Yes, shelf gas was discovered in 1971and export began in 1989.
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.
Because it is the western part of 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.