Van Diemen's Land

Van Diemen's Land
	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
Van Diemen's Land
British Crown Colony
1825–1856
	Flag
	; 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
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Colony of New South Wales
Colony of Tasmania
Today part of	Australia

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. Explorer Abel Tasman discovered the island, 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 inescapable.

The name was changed to Tasmania in 1856 to disassociate the island from its convict past and to honor its discoverer, Abel Tasman. The old name had became 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.^[1]

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. On 1 January 1856, the colony's name was officially changed from Van Diemen's Land to Tasmania. The last penal settlement in Tasmania was closed in 1877.

^ The name "Van Diemen's Land" name was retained when British settlement began there in 1803. It became a byword for horror in England because of the severity of its convict settlements such as Port Arthur and Macquarie Harbour. The name had acquired such odium that when it became a self-governing colony in 1855, one of the first acts of the new legislature was to change its name to Tasmania. "Tasmania is preferred, because 'Van Diemen's Land' is associated among all nations with bondage and guilt" John West remarked at the opening of his History of Tasmania (Launceston: Dowling) 1852, vol I:4). But the old name lingered for many years—Tasmanians were referred to as Vandemonians until the turn of the century.

[1] The name "Van Diemen's Land" name was retained when British settlement began there in 1803. It became a byword for horror in England because of the severity of its convict settlements such as Port Arthur and Macquarie Harbour. The name had acquired such odium that when it became a self-governing colony in 1855, one of the first acts of the new legislature was to change its name to Tasmania. "Tasmania is preferred, because 'Van Diemen's Land' is associated among all nations with bondage and guilt" John West remarked at the opening of his History of Tasmania (Launceston: Dowling) 1852, vol I:4). But the old name lingered for many years—Tasmanians were referred to as Vandemonians until the turn of the century.

[1]