Captain James Cook discovers Australia - April 19, 1770

On April 19, 1770 Captain James Cook first spotted Australia from his ship HM Bark Endeavor. Under order from King George III of England, Cook claimed the Eastern section of Australia and named it “New South Wales” later on that same year on August 22. Cook was a pioneer during his time, he was a captain in the Royal Navy and an accomplished navigator and cartographer. Not only is he responsible for creating the first European contact with Eastern Australia, he also made the first European discovery of Hawaii and oversaw the first circumnavigation and mapping mission of New Zealand and Newfoundland.

He was killed on February 14, 1779 on a mission in the Hawaiian Islands. At the place of his death in Hawaii, you will find a white obelisk in memoriam. The 10-foot square foot area is roped off and was given to the United Kingdom in honor of Cook. Despite being in Hawaii, this area is a part of the United Kingdom. Australia is the smallest of the continents and has been inhabited for more than 42,000 years.

http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/australianhistory/