Abel Tasman

Abel Tasman was a Dutch explorer. His first voyage out of Holland (The Netherlands) were to Batavia (now known as Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia). In 1642 Tasman was sent by Governor-General Anthony Van Diemen to explore New Holland (Australia). On this journey Tasman discovered Tasmania and New Zealand.

Tasman first called the island "Van Diemen's Land" in honour of the Governor who had sent him. Tasman never landed on the mainland of Australia. Van Dieman's Land was re-named Tasmania in honour of Abel Tasman in 1856. Tasmania has many important features named after Tasman. These include the Tasman Peninsula, the Tasman Bridge and the Tasman Highway.

As Tasman set out on his journey, he asked for God's blessing;

"May God Almighty vouchsafe His blessing on this work."

Concluding his journey ten months later, in 1643, he said;

"God be praised and thanked for this happy voyage."