| By far the most important of the Dutch navigators who took part in the discovery of Australia was Abel Jansz Tasman. |
When Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Anthony Van Diemen decided to send out an expedition to explore the unknown Southland, he chose TASMAN to command it and to trade wherever possible.
With 2 ships, the Heemskirk and the Zeehaven, he sailed to Mauritius to use the prevailing winds and setting a south-easterly course discovered the west coast of Tasmania which he named Van Diemens Land.
By sailing around the South portion of Tasmania, he disproved the common theory that New Holland was part of a great southern continent.
He stopped at Blackman Bay and ordered the ships carpenter to swim ashore & raise the flag to take official posession on December 3rd, 1642.
He sailed off only to return in 1644 with the Limmen, Zeemeeuw and Bracq to chart the coastline from Cape York to Williem's river.
He produced good maps but described the country as uninviting and without potential for trade. As a consequence, Dutch interest in the Southland waned which inhibited any further explorations.
In 1645 the Dutch East India Commpany abandoned exploration in Australia as unprofitable.
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