I agree Epona. Australia was discovered by the Tasmanian Aboriginie, who was then replaced by the mainland Aboriginie later on. 40,000 years ago is one reckoning. Others have it later.
The Dutch were the first Europeans to discover "New Holland" or "Terra Australis", when they stayed too long on the west-east ocean winds on their way from the African Cape to India. The southern winds shortened their journey, but some overestimated, stayed in the current too long, and bumped into Oz.
Of the English, Darwin was first, hit, the Northern territory and wrote a derogatory description of the land and it's people. Good one Charles. It was like bumping into the Kola Peninsular and declaring all Europe an icey inhabitable wasteland.
The Dutch traded with the northern Arnhemlanders (all whites are called Ballanders to this day by Arnhemlanders) early on, and the Chinese and Javanese are supposed to have made contact before the Europeans too.
The Dutchman Abel Tasman ended up hitting Van Diemens land (later named Tasmania) sometime after that.
Cook then charted Australia and New Zealand, and Arthur Phillip landed the first Euro settlement in 1788AD.
Regarding Zealand, Zeeland is indeed in Holland, and Zealand is the island Copenhagen is on. Both mean Sea-land I believe. I'm not sure which it is named after. In any case I prefer to call New Zealand "Aotearoa", the Maori name meaning "land of the long white cloud".
In 1988 the legendary Burham Burnham discovered England, declared it Terra Nullis and claimed it for the Australian Aboriginie. Haven't heard any more about that though.
