Table of Contents
Why did Captain Cook think he could claim Australia?
Did Cook claim he discovered Australia? Cook named the land he encountered New South Wales in an effort to counter any Dutch interest in what they had long called New Holland. The name Australia was popularised by Matthew Flinders following his circumnavigation of the continent in 1803.
Why did British think Australia was terra nullius?
Possession of Australia was declared on the basis of unilateral possession. The land was defined as terra nullius, or wasteland, because Cook and Banks considered there were few ‘natives’ along the coast. They apparently deduced that there would be fewer or none inland.
Why did Captain Cook say terra nullius?
As we learned in Week 2, Cook was advised to only take possession of land if it was empty, or he had the consent of the inhabitants. Without the consent of the inhabitants, it was convenient to present the land as empty, or Terra Nullius (nobody’s land).
Who did cook claim Australia for?
Britain
Five days later, finally clear of the labyrinth of reefs and having proved the existence of the Torres Strait, Cook climbed the summit of Possession Island and claimed the east coast of the Australian continent for Britain.
When did cook claim Australia?
After observing the transit of Venus in Tahiti and mapping the North and South Islands of New Zealand, the Endeavour sailed west. The crew first sighted the mainland of Australia on 19 April 1770. James Cook and some of his crew landed at Kamay Botany Bay on 29 April 1770.
When did Captain Cook first come to Australia?
Britain’s first contact with Australia came with Captain Cook’s voyage in the ship Endeavour. He landed in Australia in 1770 and claimed it as a British territory. A fleet of 11 ships, containing 736 convicts, some British troops and a governor set up the first colony of New South Wales.
When did James Cook claim the east coast of Australia?
Terra nullius. In 1770, when Captain James Cook landed in Botany Bay, he claimed possession of the East Coast of Australia for Britain under the doctrine of terra nullius (“nobody’s land”). According to the international law of Europe in the late 18th century, there were only three ways that Britain could take possession…
Why was Captain Cook important to the British Empire?
If you were at school after the second world war to the mid-1960s, Australia still had strong links to the British Empire. Cook was portrayed as a one of the greatest explorers in history and textbooks presented clear messages Cook “discovered” Australia and “took possession” of the land for England.
Why did Captain Cook call his voyage a retracing?
The PM initially referred to the year-long voyage as a “re-enactment”, but later clarified it would be a “retracing”. This is because Captain Cook never made it around Australia. In fact it was Matthew Flinders who circumnavigated the country, identified it as a continent and suggested the name “Australia”.