In Australian history the colonisation of the Great Southern Land has traditionally been exclusively constructed around the role the British played in the 18th century. It is a much less known fact that the Portuguese, Dutch, Asians and French played vital roles too.

After Aboriginal people settled the continent of Australia 60,000 years ago, the first arrival on Australian shores was the Dutch crew aboard the Duyfken (Little Dove) under Captain Janszoon in 1606. They sailed along what we now know as Cape York Peninsula recording their journey. Although there may have been earlier contact by Portuguese and Southeast Asian vessels, unlike Duyfken, these left no traces for posterity.

For the next half a century ships of the VOC discovered and mapped the greater part of the Australian coastline: the Gulf of Carpentaria, the northwest coast, the west coast and the majority of the south coast and Tasmania. Not all these voyages were voluntarily, as some vessels ended up on Australian shores because of navigational errors.

There were, however, VOC journeys explicitly undertaken to discover new land and to establish trading posts, most notably Carstensz in 1623, Tasman in 1642 and 1644, and de Vlamingh in 1696. Their aim was to make contact with Aboriginal people, find out about trade goods, such as minerals, pearls, animals or fruit, and determine the extend of the continent.

Unfortunately for the VOC, encounters with Aboriginal people proved rather difficult. On most occasions the Dutch were left only to observe footprints, dwellings and fire smoke. Where there was contact, it appears to have been hostile and sometimes violent. Presumably, and with some justification, Indigenous Australians perceived the Dutch landings as invasions. Hence, little information regarding social or political structure was gained. Nor, as a result, the resources the Dutch were so interested in. But not all encounters were unfriendly. In Aboriginal oral history European people feature as having lived with local groups in Western Australia near the wreck site of the VOC's Zeewijk on Gun Island (1727).

Many localities were named by the Dutch navigators, such as Groote Island (Big Island) or Van Diemen's Land (today's Tasmania). Australia was generally referred to as the Southland until Abel Tasman named it New Holland. This term remained in use until 1817 when the English navigator Flinders recommended it changed to Australia.

After 1696 and many unfavourable expedition reports, the VOC abandoned the new enterprise and did not attempt to establish itself or trade in Australia any longer. In 1772 Australia was annexed by the French and in 1788 Cook took possession of the land for the English crown. Eventually other European territorial claims, including the Dutch appropriation through Tasman, were relinquished or no longer pursued.

Victorszoon, Victor. 1697. Detail from: Map showing the ships Geelvinck, Nijptang and Wezeltje of Willem de Vlamingh's exploration National Archives of the Netherlands.

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