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Van Diemen's Land was the colonial name of the island of Tasmania used by the British during the European exploration and colonisation of Australia in the 19th century. The island was previously discovered and named by the Dutch in 1642.
Van Diemen’s Land, (1642–1855), the southeastern Australian island colony that became the commonwealth state of Tasmania. Named for Anthony van Diemen, governor general of the Dutch East Indies, the island was first encountered by Europeans in 1642 and named by Abel J. Tasman, a celebrated navigator under van Diemen’s command.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Australian island state of Tasmania was once known as Van Diemen’s Land. The name originated with Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who became the first European to discover the island in 1642. He named it for Anthony van Diemen, the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies who had sent Tasman on a voyage of exploration.
Van Diemen's Land is a 2009 Australian thriller set in 1822 in colonial Tasmania. It follows the story of the infamous Irish convict, Alexander Pearce, played by Oscar Redding and his escape with seven other convicts. The voice-over and some of the dialogue is in Irish.
Learn about the history of convict transportation and life in Van Diemen’s Land from 1788 to 1868. Explore interactive map and timeline, search convict records, and find links to other resources.
Van Diemen's Land was soon marketing itself as the 'Sanatorium of the South', famous for its flowers, fruit and healthy inhabitants. In addition, assigned convicts provided many free settlers with a source of labour that in England was the prerogative only of the rich.
Learn about the history of convict transportation and settlement in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) from 1803 to 1825. Find a list of record series and guides to convict records in the State Archives Collection.
