Being at the end of the world and with such a large and often desolate landscape, exploration was essential both for European discovery and development. Early sea explorers came from several nations, but the British created the colonies. Increasing population, commercialism, inquisitiveness, and often mislaid beliefs such as an Inland Sea, possible gold reefs and more, saw people opening up new areas and connecting settlements.

This page provides links to information and resources for units and topics covered in this subject at a range of Australian universities. It does not attempt to include all these. Be aware some units/topics have different titles in different universities, even though content may be the same or similar. Australian information is supplied wherever possible.

They are at undergraduate level and listed in alphabetical groupings for ease of access. Some information may be useful at a higher level.

In addition, there are journals, search engines, databases, primary documents, reference material and other general information where these are seen to be relevant.

All standard Glossaries are now found on this page, listed alphabetically.

Additional unit material will be included as time permits.

If you are aware of any worthwhile information which is not included, suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given every consideration.

Pre 1788 Exploration

Chinese Exploration of Australia

Did the Chinese actually explore the Australian coast ?

• 1421 - The Year the Chinese Discovered the World
  See what is being presented for the claim that Zheng He actually discovered Australia among other explorations in 1421.
• The 1421 Myth Exposed
  Strong opposing view from international historians.

Cook, Captain James

• Captain James Cook : Celebrated North Country Navigator
  Information, timeline, who he was, gallery, links, more.
• Captain Cook : Obsession and Discovery
  ‘Geographer, historical consultant and bestselling British author Vanessa Collingridge searches for the man behind the legend as she traces his story in a series that is part biography, part travelogue - and completely enthralling’. Enhance Study Guide.
• Captain Cook’s Ships
  The Endeavour and others in which he carried out voyages.
• Captain James Cook, The World’s Explorer
  Biography, images, portraits, sources, links, family tree, more.
• James Cook
  Information, references, links. From Wikipedia.
• James Cook [2]
  ‘Links to other pages. Part of the Discoverers Web’. Listing in directories.
• The Captain Cook Society
  ‘For everyone interested in James Cook [1728-1779]’.
• The South Seas Project
  Maps, online editions of the Journals of James Cook’s First Pacific Voyage, 1768-1771. Full text of journals from people such as Banks, Parkinson, Hawkesworth.
• Voyages online
  1768, The voyage of the Endeavour. ‘The “voyage of the Endeavour” pages are rich in exciting multimedia - you will need one of these plug-ins to access the QuicktimeVR, VRML and Flash animations that the site contains’.

Dampier, William

• A Voyage To New Holland
  Online version of Dampier’s book of his 1699 voyage.
• Dampier William
  Australian Dictionary of Biography
• William Dampier
  Information, links. From Wikipedia.
• William Dampier [2]
  Article.

Dutch Explorers

• They Set Sail from Holland
  ‘Dedicated to the Dutch who sailed and explored the shores of Australia’. Specific information, linked pages.
• The Voyagie [VOC]
  The Duyfken and other Dutch voyages. Linked to events surrounding the building of the replica.

Tasman, Abel Janzsoon

• Abel Janszoon Tasman
  Transcript of a speech ‘Read before the Royal Society of Tasmania on the 25th November, 1895, by James Backhouse Walker, F.R.G.S’..
• Abel Tasman
  Information, links. From Wikipedia.
• Tasman, Abel
  Australian Dictionary of Biography.
• The Journal of Abel Jansz Tasman, 1642
  With Documents Relating to his Exploration of Australia in 1644. Online journal.

Top of Page

Land Exploration

Major overland explorers in Australia.

Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth

• Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth
  Links to the Dictionary of Biography for each as well as links to ebooks for Blaxland.
• Journal of a Tour of Discovery Across the Blue Mountains
  [New South Wales, in the Year 1813]
  Online journal by Gregory Blaxland.

Burke and Wills

A major exploration and avoidable tragedy.

• Burke and Wills
  Journey from Melbourne to the northern coast.
• Burke & Wills - Terra Incognita
  State Library of Victoria. Background, preparations, the explorers, expedition, aftermath, archival information.
  Highly Recommended !
• Welcome to Burke & Wills Web
  Everything you want to know, see and learn. Information, documentation, books, memorials, bibliography, links, downloads of relevant material in various formats.
  Exceptional.

Eyre, Edward John

• Edward John Eyre
  Information, links. From Wikipedia.
• Edward John Eyre [2]
  Download copies of his journals. Includes crossing the Nullarbor.

Hume & Hovell

• Dictionary of Australian Biography
  Scroll down to biographies of both William Hovell and Hamilton Hume.
• Hume and Hovell’s Journey to Port Phillip
  Hovell’s diary.

Kennedy, Edmund

• Edmund Kennedy
  Link to Australian Dictionary of Biography and writings about his expedition [ebook].
• Edmund Kennedy [2]
  Information, links. From Wikipedia.

Leichhardt, Ludwig

• Leichhardt Online
  Goettingen State and University Library, Germany. In English and German.
• Ludwig Leichhardt
  Information, skill as a bushman, second expedition.

Mitchell, Major Thomas

• Major Sir Thomas Livingston Mitchell
  Information, links. From Wikipedia.
• Major Thomas Livingston Mitchell

Oxley, John

• John Oxley
  Australian Dictionary of Biography.
• John Oxley - Biography
  An e-history.

Stuart, John McDouall

• John McDouall Stuart
  Biographical notes, expedition information, more.
• John McDouall Stuart [2]
  Information, links From Wikipedia.
• John McDouall Stuart [1815 - 1866]
  Australian Dictionary of Biography [Online Edition].
• The John McDouall Stuart Society
  Biography, expedition details, illustrations & maps, his companions, print documentation, links.

Sturt, Charles

• Captain Charles Sturt
  Introduction, publications, the Explorer, archives, more.
• Charles Sturt
  Information, links. From Wikipedia.

Top of Page

Sea Exploration, 1788 -

Major sea explorers in Australia.

Bass, George

• George Bass
  Information, links From Wikipedia.
• George Bass [2]
  Australian Dictionary of Biography.

Flinders, Matthew

• The Flinders Papers
  ‘Transcripts of over 150 documents about Flinders’s life and work’. Section About Flinders is good.
• Matthew Flinders
  Electronic archive at the State Library of New South Wales.

French Explorers

In some instances, these explorations overlapped 1788.

• D’Entrecasteaux, Antoine Raymond Joseph de Bruni
  Early career, explorations - especially around Australia, looking for LaPerouse.
• La Pérouse, Comte de
  Jean-François de Galoup. Biography, account of his travels, death, the later discovery of this information.

Top of Page

Other Information

General Exploration Sites

• Australian Discovery
  Edited by Ernest Scott, available online. Initial discoveries, land exploration. In 2 volumes.
• Australian Discovery -
  1606 and all that - early maritime contact with Australia. ‘Its aim is to help Australians to know their early Maritime Contact History better’.
• Australian Explorers
  Primary level. Information about major explorers, other links.
• Australian Explorers [2]
  From Wikipedia. Explorers from Batman [John] to Wilkins.
• Australian Explorers - Links
  Information on explorers from George Bass to Thomas Mitchell. Link to clipart on Australian exploration.
• Australia on the Map
  ‘Our focus is particularly on the many Mariners who [whether by accident or design] charted our coasts - and put Australia on the Map’. Journeys, events, conferences, links, more.
• Encounters with Aborigines, 1606-1756
  ‘From the book - Before the First Fleet by John Kenny’.
• Landings List 1606 - 1814
  ‘Database of selected landings on the Australian coast from 1606 to 1814 in chronological order with brief narrative of the essentials’.
• Nineteenth Century Exploration of Australia
  Based on a map produced in 1893. Information on explorers.
• South Seas
  ‘Voyaging and Cross-Cultural Encounters in the Pacific [1760-1800]’. Accounts, maps, cultural atlases, Indigenous histories, European reactions, reference works, research.
• Taking It To The Edge, Coast : Flinders and Baudin
  From the State Library of South Australia. Maps and information.
• The Art of Navigation
  From the Australian ABC. History, Captains, Naturalists, Ships, Navigation, Maps, glossary, School Projects, more.
• The History of Australian Exploration from 1788 to 1888
  ‘Compiled from State Documents, Private Papers and the most authentic sources of information. Issued under the auspices of the Government of the Australian Colonies’. By Ernest Favenc, 1888. The file is also available for download.

Journals

Original journals, descriptions, etc., in either online or ebook format.

• Australian Explorer’s Journals
  Journals from Cook to the Jardine Brothers. You can read them online.
• Land and Sea Explorers and Discoverers
  Australian Journals ‘at Project Gutenberg of Australia, in ebook form. One of the most comprehensive collections in the world of the journals of Australian explorers’.

Top of Page

© D & B Mann Webmasters. All rights reserved. Last updated - 7 April 2012.
Best viewed at a resolution of 1280 x 800 or greater. We use and recommend Mozilla Firefox as the preferred browser.