Flinders Mapping

MATTHEW FLINDERS MAPPING

Despite being the first chart of the continent and the first time the name Australia was applied to a map - 220 years after Flinders' chart of Australia left Mauritius it has neither been digitised nor published. Two efforts have been made to bring the map to prominence and apparently both have failed. It is not discoverable on the Internet, other than in newspaper articles covering the 1988 bicentenary facsimile and a record of the 2004 commemorative copy being received by the NT Parliament - the Speaker got the name wrong "Terra Australis of Australia" instead of Australia or terra Australis thereby defeating the purpose. As soon as a high resolution image is obtained it will be published.

By bringing Flinders' charts into juxtaposition with other cartography it is proposed that there is persuasive evidence that 'Matthew Flinders was the first person to chart the lower Gulf of Carpentaria. The position is thereafter considered in the context of discoveries claimed by the Dutch in other areas of the north coast of Australia.

Mauritius 1804

Flinders and the crew of the Cumberland are imprisoned on Mauritius by the French. Uncertain of his prospects of release he sends letters and papers with Mr Aken. Amongst the papers addressed to Sir joseph Banks is the first chart of the continent of Australia - the first map to bear the Name Australia. The ship sails for England on 14th November 1804. It will save his reputation, debunk French & Dutch claims to a parts borne in the discovery of Australia.

The First Map of Australia 1804

The First Map of Australia 1804 nla.obj-804204505

1988 Bicentenary Facsimile Flinders 1804 First Map of Australia

North Australian Coast - Cape Londonderry to Cape York

Arrowsmith Chart of the Pacific 1798

Arrowsmith 1798 pre Flinders 1802/3

Flinders 1804 Insert Map 1798

Flinders 1814 'Voyage to Terra Australis'

1804 Flinders

1814 Flinders

Flinders 1814 published 1804 chart - prior to PP King 1818-22 & HMS Beagle 1839 - Corrections by Stokes 1841 - additional soundings by Lt. Chimmo RN 1856. Maria Is. & soundings by F. Howard, Master & MS Guy, 2nd Master RN 1865.

The Gulf of Carpentaria

Bonaparte Map of Tasman voyages 1642 & 44 - the original is lost.

Insert Nth. Coast Sheet II V to TA 1814

The Bonaparte - Tasman Map of the 1642 & 1644 voyages shows non-existent geographical features adjacent to marked anchorages.

SW anchorages at mouth of Roper R. & nr Bing Bong opp. Pellew Group

Anchorage inside SE Promontory 1642/44

Conclusion:- There is no evidence of Europeans having first-hand knowledge of the lower Gulf of Carpentaria prior to Flinders 1802. There is evidence that charts prior to Flinders were fabricated for financial and political gain. Demonstration of falsehood in the lower Gulf - islands, rivers, promontories etc. is compounded by the appending of names to these fictitious features. The artless repetition of company names between Van Diemen's This & Van Diemen's That is punctuated by occasional islands all called Maria - frequent Water Platts & bookended by Cape Keerweers. Flinders' description of the Tasman chart of the Gulf as a 'map of fairyland' is generous - one wonders why.