Australia

n., and Australian,adj.

As early as the 16th century there was a belief ina Terra australis (to which was often added the epithet incognita), literally «southern land,» which wasbelieved to be land lying round and stretching outwards fromthe South Pole.

In `Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society ofAustralasia,' Sydney, Jan. 1892, is printed a paper read at theGeographical Congress at Berne, by E. Delmar Morgan, on the`Early Discovery of Australia.' This paper is illustrated bymaps taken from `Nordenskiold's Atlas.' In a map by OrontiusFinoeus, a French cosmographer of Provence, dated 1531, the Terra australis is shown as «Terra Australis recenterinventa, sed nondum plene cognita.» In Ortelius' Map, 1570, itappears as «Terra Australis nondum cognita.» In GerardMercator's Map, 1587, as «Terra Australis» simply.

In 1606 the Spaniard Fernandez de Quiros gave the name of Terra Australis del Espiritu Santo to land which hethought formed part of the Great Southland. It is in fact oneof the New Hebrides.

The word « Australian» is older than « Australia» (see quotations, 1693 and 1766). The name Australia wasadapted from the Latin name Terra Australis. Theearliest suggestion of the word is credited to Flinders, whocertainly thought that he was inventing the name. (See quotation, 1814.) Twenty-one years earlier, however, the wordis found (see quotation, 1793); and the passage containing itis the first known use of the word in print. Shaw may thus beregarded as its inventor. According to its title-page, thebook quoted is by two authors, the Zoology, by Shaw andthe Botany by Smith. The Botany, however, wasnot published. Of the two names – – Australia and Australasia – – suggested in the opening of the quotation,to take the place of New Holland, Shaw evidently favoured Australia, while Smith, in the `Transactions of theLinnaean Society,' vol. iv. p. 213 (1798), uses Australasia for the continent several times. Neithername, however, passed then into general use. In 1814, RobertBrown the Botanist speaks of « Terra Australis,» not of « Australia.» «Australia» was reinvented by Flinders.

Quotations for «Terra Australis» – – 1621. R. Burton, `Anatomy of Melancholy' (edition 1854), p. 56:

«For the site, if you will needs urge me to it, I am not fullyresolved, it may be in Terra Australis incognita, thereis room enough (for of my knowledge, neither that hungrySpaniard nor Mercurius Britannicus have yet discovered half ofit).»

Ibid. p. 314:

« Terra Australis incognita. ..and yet in likelihood itmay be so, for without all question, it being extended from thetropic of Capricorn to the circle Antarctic, and lying as itdoth in the temperate zone, cannot choose but yield in timesome flourishing kingdoms to succeeding ages, as America didunto the Spaniards.»

Ibid. p. 619:

«But these are hard-hearted, unnatural, monsters of men,shallow politicians, they do not consider that a great part ofthe world is not yet inhabited as it ought, how many coloniesinto America, Terra Australis incognita, Africa may besent?»

Early quotations for «Australian»

1693. `Nouveau Voyage de la Terre Australe, contenant lesCoutumes et les Moeurs des Australiens, etc.' Par JaquesSadeur [Gabriel de Foigny].

[This is a work of fiction, but interesting as being the firstbook in which the word Australiens is used. The nextquotation is from the English translation.]

1693. `New Discovery, Terra Incognita Australis,' p. 163 (`O.E.D.'):

«It is easy to judge of the incomparability of the Australianswith the people of Europe.»

1766. Callander, `Terra Australis' (Translation of De Brosses),c. ii. p. 280:

«One of the Australians, or natives of the Southern World,whom Gonneville had brought into France.»

Quotations for «Australia»

1793. G. Shaw and I. E. Smith, `Zoology and Botany of NewHolland,' p. 2:

«The vast Island or rather Continent of Australia, Australasia,or New Holland, which has so lately attracted the particularattention of European navigators and naturalists, seems toabound in scenes of peculiar wildness and sterility; while thewretched natives of many of those dreary districts seem lesselevated above the inferior animals than in any other part ofthe known world; Caffraria itself not excepted; as well as lessindued with the power of promoting a comfortable existence byan approach towards useful arts and industry. It is in thesesavage regions however that Nature seems to have poured forthmany of her most highly ornamented products with unusualliberality.»

1814. M. Flinders, `Voyage to Terra Australis,' Introduction,p. iii. and footnote:

«I have . . . ventured upon the readoption of the originalTerra Australis, and of this term I shall hereafter makeuse, when speaking of New Holland [ sc. the West] and NewSouth Wales, in a collective sense; and when using it in themost extensive signification, the adjacent isles, includingthat of Van Diemen, must be understood to be comprehended.» [Footnote]: «Had I permitted myself any innovation upon theoriginal term, it would have been to convert it into Australia;as being more agreeable to the ear, and an assimilation to thenames of the other great portions of the earth.»

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,'vol. i. p. 9:

«New South Wales (or Australia, as we colonials say).»

1839. C. Darwin, `Naturalist's Voyage' (ed. 1890), p. 328:

«Farewell, Australia! You are a rising child, and doubtlesssome day will reign a great princess in the South; but you aretoo great and ambitious for affection, yet not great enough forrespect. I leave your shores without sorrow or regret.»

1852. A Liverpool Merchant [Title]:

«A Guide to Australia and the Gold Regions.»

1873. A. Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' c. viii. (newed.) p. 152:

«The colonies are determined to be separate. Australia is a term that finds no response in the patriotic feeling of any Australian. . . . But this will come to an end sooner or later. The name of Australia will be dearer, if not greater, to Australian ears than the name of Great Britain.»

[Mr. Trollope's prophecy has come true, and the name of Australia is now dearer to an Australian than the name of his own separate colony. The word «Colonial» as indicating Australian nationality is going out of fashion. The word «Australian» is much preferred.]

1878. F. P. Labilliere, `Early History of the Colony ofVictoria,' vol. i. p. 184:

«In a despatch to Lord Bathurst, of April 4th, 1817, GovernorMacquarie acknowledges the receipt of Captain Flinders's chartsof `Australia.' This is the first time that the name ofAustralia appears to have been officially employed. TheGovernor underlines the word. . . . In a private letter toMr. Secretary Goulbourn, M.P., of December 21st, 1817, [he]says. . . `the Continent of Australia, which, I hope, will be thename given to this country in future, instead of the veryerroneous and misapplied name hitherto given it of New Holland,which, properly speaking, only applies to a part of thisimmense Continent.'»

1883. G. W. Rusden, `History of Australia,' vol. i. p. 64:

«It is pleasant to reflect that the name Australia was selectedby the gallant Flinders; though, with his customary modesty, hesuggested rather than adopted it.»

1895. H. M. Goode, `The Argus,' Oct. 15, p. 7, col. 4:

«Condemning the absurd practice of using the word `Colonial' inconnection with our wines, instead of the broader and morefederal one, `Australian.' In England our artists, cricketer,scullers, and globe-trotters are all spoken of and acknowledgedas Australians, and our produce, with the exception of wine, isclassed as follows: – – Australian gold and copper, Australianbeef and mutton, Australian butter, Australian fruits, &c.»

Ibid. p. 14:

«Merops or Bee-Eater. A tribe [of birds] which appears to bepeculiarly prevalent in the extensive regions of Australia.»