Australia was originally called New Holland

Did you know that a name first applied to Australia’s mainland  for at least 180 years  was “New Holland”? The name name was given by the Dutchseafarer Abel Tasman in 1644.

The name “New Holland” was rejected by the British navigator and cartographer Matthew Flinders in 1804 in favor of the name “Australia” recommending its official adoption by the British government.

Finally, the new name “Australia” was officially approved by the United Kingdom in 1824.