What was Van Diemen's Land?
Q: What was Van Diemen's Land?
A: Van Diemen's Land was the name Europeans used for Tasmania before they knew it was an island.
Q: Who was the first European to chart some coasts of Tasmania?
A: The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to chart some coasts of Tasmania.
Q: Why was the land named Van Diemen's Land?
A: The land was named Van Diemen's Land after Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, who had sent Tasman to explore the presumed south land in 1642.
Q: When did the British settle Van Diemen's Land as a penal colony?
A: The British settled Van Diemen's Land as a penal colony in 1803.
Q: Who was the first Governor of Van Diemen's Land when it became an independent colony in 1824?
A: George Arthur was the first Governor of Van Diemen's Land when it became an independent colony in 1824.
Q: When did Britain change the name of Van Diemen's Land to Tasmania?
A: Britain changed the name of Van Diemen's Land to Tasmania in 1856.
Q: Why was the name of Van Diemen's Land changed to Tasmania?
A: The name of Van Diemen's Land was changed to Tasmania at the request of its citizens. It had been an alternative name shown on some maps and used by the community for decades. Additionally, Britain had given the colony the right to govern itself later that year. It had its own parliament.
