VOC Mapping and Exploration of Australasia and the Pacific (1601–1644)

1. VOC founded with state-backed monopoly

   Mar 20, 1602Labels: VOC, Dutch Republic, States General

   • Britannica
   • Encyclopedia

2. Duyfken reaches Cape York, mapping begins

   Feb 26, 1606Labels: Duyfken, Willem Janszoon, Cape York

   • WA Museum
   • Wikipedia

3. Brouwer Route adopted for faster Batavia voyages

   Jan 1, 1611Labels: Brouwer Route, Roaring Forties, VOC captains

   • Wikipedia
   • NMA

4. Hartog lands at Shark Bay and leaves plate

   Oct 25, 1616Labels: Dirk Hartog, Shark Bay

   • WA Museum
   • NSW Heritage

5. Hessel Gerritsz becomes VOC’s official cartographer

   Oct 16, 1617Labels: Hessel Gerritsz, VOC cartography, official cartographer

   • Wikipedia
   • CNRS

6. Coen burns Jacatra and founds Batavia

   May 30, 1619Labels: Jan Pieterszoon, Batavia, Jacatra

   • Britannica

7. Houtman Abrolhos sighted and charted as hazard

   Jul 29, 1619Labels: Frederik de, Houtman Abrolhos, reef hazards

   • WA Museum
   • Wikipedia

8. Pera and Arnhem chart the Gulf of Carpentaria

   Apr 14, 1623Labels: Pera, Arnhem, Gulf of

   • Wikipedia
   • Gutenberg AU

9. Gerritsz publishes early Australia-focused coastal chart

   Jan 1, 1627Labels: Hessel Gerritsz, Caert van't, Western Australia

   • Wikipedia

10. Gulden Zeepaert charts much of Australia’s south coast

    Jan 26, 1627Labels: 't Gulden, Fran ois, Pieter Nuyts

    • Monument Aus
    • Southern Ports

11. Batavia wreck shows risks of fast-route navigation

    Jun 4, 1629Labels: Batavia ship, Houtman Abrolhos, shipwreck

    • NMA
    • WA Shipwrecks

12. Van Diemen commissions new VOC exploration program

    Jan 1, 1636Labels: Anthony van, VOC exploration, Batavia governor

    • Britannica
    • NPG Australia

13. Tasman departs Batavia on major southern voyage

    Aug 14, 1642Labels: Abel Tasman, Heemskerck, Zeehaen

    • NLA
    • Britannica

14. Tasman sights Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania)

    Nov 24, 1642Labels: Van Diemen's, Abel Tasman, Tasmania

    • NLA
    • Britannica

15. Tasman reaches New Zealand; conflict at Golden Bay

    Dec 13, 1642Labels: New Zealand, Abel Tasman, Golden Bay

    • NLA
    • Britannica

16. Tasman charts island groups in Tonga and Fiji

    Jan 21, 1643Labels: Tonga, Fiji, Abel Tasman

    • Britannica
    • NLA

17. Tasman returns to Batavia with mapped discoveries

    Jun 14, 1643Labels: Abel Tasman, Batavia return, Voyage charts

    • Britannica

18. Tasman’s second voyage charts northern Australia coastline

    Feb 29, 1644Labels: Abel Tasman, second voyage, Gulf of

    • Britannica
    • Britannica