Van Diemen's Land
| Van Diemen's Land | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Crown Colony | |||||||||
| 1825–1856 | |||||||||
1828 map | |||||||||
| Anthem | |||||||||
| God Save the King/Queen | |||||||||
| Capital | Hobart | ||||||||
| Demonym | Van Diemonian (usually spelt Vandemonian) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1851 | 70,130 | ||||||||
| Government | |||||||||
| • Type | Self-governing colony | ||||||||
| Monarch | |||||||||
• 1825–1830 | George IV | ||||||||
• 1830–1837 | William IV | ||||||||
• 1837–1856 | Victoria | ||||||||
| Lieutenant-Governor | |||||||||
• 1825–1836 | Sir George Arthur first | ||||||||
• 1855–1856 | Sir Henry Young last | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Independence from the Colony of New South Wales | 3 December 1825 | ||||||||
• Name changed to Tasmania and self-rule | 1856 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Australia | ||||||||
1852 map of Van Diemen's Land | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern Ocean |
| Coordinates | 42°00′S 147°00′E / 42.000°S 147.000°E |
| Area | 68,401 km2 (26,410 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,614 m (5295 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Ossa |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
| Largest settlement | Hobart Town |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 70,130 (1851) |
| Pop. density | 1.03/km2 (2.67/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | European Australians, Aboriginal Tasmanians |
Van Diemen's Land was the colonial name of the island of Tasmania during the European exploration and colonisation of Australia in the 19th century. The Aboriginal-inhabited island was first visited by the Dutch ship captained by Abel Tasman in 1642, working under the sponsorship of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. The British retained the name when they established a settlement in 1803 before it became a separate colony in 1825. Its penal colonies became notorious destinations for the transportation of convicts due to the harsh environment, isolation and reputation for being escape-proof.
The name was changed to Tasmania on 1st January 1856 to disassociate the island from its convict past and to honour its discoverer, Abel Tasman. The old name had become a byword for horror in England because of the severity of its convict settlements such as Macquarie Harbour and Port Arthur. When the island became a self-governing colony in 1855, one of the first acts of the new legislature was to change its name.
With the passing of the Australian Constitutions Act 1850, Van Diemen's Land (along with New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia) was granted responsible self-government with its own elected representative and parliament. The last penal settlement in Tasmania was closed in 1877.