(and its adjectives), name «given originally by De Brosses to one of his three divisionsof the alleged Terra australis.» (`O.E.D.') Now used asa larger term than Australian, to include the continent ofAustralia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Fiji and islands. Forpeculiar use of the name for the Continent in 1793, see Australia.
1756. Charles de Brosses, `Histoire des Navigations aux TerresAustrales,' tom. i. p. 80:
«On peut de meme diviser le monde austral inconnu en troisportions. .. .L'une dans l'ocean des Indes au sud de l'Asie quej'appellerai par cette raison australasie.»
1766. Callander, `Terra Australis,' i. p. 49 (Translation ofde Brosses)(`O.E.D.):
«The first [division] in the Indian Ocean, south of Asia, whichfor this reason we shall call Australasia.»
1802. G. Shaw, `Zoology,' iii. p. 506 (`O.E.D.'):
«Other Australasian snakes.»
1823. Subject for English poem at Cambridge University:
`Australasia.'
[The prize (Chancellor's Medal) was won by Winthrop MackworthPraed. William Charles Wentworth stood second.] The concludinglines of his poem are:
«And Australasia float, with flag unfurl'd,
A new Britannia in another world.»
1846. C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 77:
«How far had these ideas been acted upon by the Colonists of Austral Asia?» [sic.]
1852. J. West, `History of Tasmania,' vol. 1. p. 109:
«`The Austral-Asiatic Review,' by Murray, also made itsappearance [in Hobart] in February, 1828.»
1855. Tennyson, `The Brook,' p. 194:
«Katie walks
By the long wash of Australasian seas
Far off, and holds her head to other stars,
And breathes in converse seasons.»
[Altered in Edition of 1894 to «breathes in April-autumns.» ]
1857. Daniel Bunce [Title]:
«Australasiatic reminiscences.»
1864. `The Australasian,' Oct. 1, First Number [Title]:
«The Australasian.»
1880. Alfred R. Wallace [Title]:
«Australasia.» [In Stanford's `Compendium of Geography and Travel.']
1881. David Blair [Title]:
«Cyclopaedia of Australasia.»
1890. E. W. Hornung, `Bride from the Bush,' p. 29:
«It was neither Cockney nor Yankee, but a nasal blend of both:it was a lingo that declined to let the vowels run alone, buttrotted them out in ill-matched couples, with discordant andawful consequences; in a word, it was Australasiatic of theworst description.»
1890. `Victorian Consolidated Statutes,' Administration andp.obate Act, Section 39:
«`Australasian Colonies,' shall mean all colonies for the timebeing on the main land of Australia. ..and shall also includethe colonies of New Zealand, Tasmania and Fiji and any otherBritish Colonies or possessions in Australasia now existing orhereafter to be created which the Governor in Council may fromtime to time declare to be Australasian Colonies within themeaning of this Act.»
1895. Edward Jenks [Title]:
«History of the Australasian Colonies.»
1896. J. S. Laurie [Title]:
«The Story of Australasia.»