Van Diemen's Land

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

the name given to the colony nowcalled Tasmania, by Abel Jansz Tasman, the Dutch navigator,in 1642, after Anthony Van Diemen, Governor-General of theDutch East Indies. The name was changed to Tasmania (q.v.) in 1853, on the granting of Responsible Government.

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