Were Portuguese Explorers the first to arrive in Australia?
 

Interesting bit of news out today.....

For more see: http://bit.ly/1auRWdu

The Basque where probably there first, they just never talked much about it. They where fishing for cod and whaling in Newfoundland in the 16th century, and may have been there as early as the 11th century, so who knows where else they may have gone in search of fish to sell to the rest of Europe.

Sebastian Elcano (1476-1526), the Basque mariner, the first to circumnavigate globe, sailed with Magellan of Portugal, who was killed during the 3 year long voyage. Elcano probably used a map from an earlier voyage by other Basque fishermen.

I guess that is why they have kangaroos in Portugal - they took some with them to OZ - ditto for the dingo dog (which of course 'took the baby') - put another shrimp on the barbie mate! And don't forget to tie that kangaroo down.

There are a few kangaroos in Portugal, they're called politicians.

This was in our news yesterday - lately there have been a few reports along the same lines. A short while back, a boy found part of a Portuguese musket or similar weapon on a Northern Territory beach. It's possibly 16th century, older than the Dutch visits and the line nowadays is that it may have come via Indonesia. I first heard in 1977 that the Portuguese may have come here before the Dutch, based on the presence of a great south land in old maps, with something resembling the coastal outline of Australia. It was reported to the public in the now defunct serious Australian news magazine The Bulletin. Not much was made of that at the time, goodness knows why. Maybe this will sway the primary school teachers! :)

But there is no doubt that the Indonesians were frequent visitors to Australia (just a short trip away), and the Aborigines have obviously been here for 40,000 years, possibly even 60,000 years, not just a drop in the bucket. So, no, the Portuguese weren't the first ever, but just possibly the first Europeans to make it here.

Lavandula

OF course the "Mahogany Ship" has always been legendary down here in Victoria - maybe it wasn't just a legend?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahogany_Ship

(Apologies to all Academics watching for my citing of Wikipedia as a source!)

Bendigo, I am pretty sure we are talking about the same thing - the name of the book 'Secret Discovery of Australia' rings bells now - but strongest in my memory was the evidence of the maps, which your Wikipedia article seems to confirm. :)

Now perhaps not so strange that this history was never much developed and advanced in schools - I see now the evidence is quite controversial.

Lavandula

Here, this is what I've been googling this evening:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_...y_of_Australia

More to ruminate on....

Lavandula

Australia was discovered long before any Europeans arrived.