Lexi Webster
The Freycinet Map of 1811 is considered the first map of Australia to be published, showing the continent's full outline. It was drawn by Louis de Freycinet and was the outcome of the Baudin expedition to Australia. The map was published in the second part of the 'Atlas Historique' in 1811. However, some sources suggest that Matthew Flinders' 1804 general chart of Australia or Terra Australis was the first map of the continent, and the first to use the name Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the map | Freycinet Map |
| Year of publication | 1811 |
| Author | Louis de Freycinet |
| First published map of Australia as a continent | Yes |
| Showed the full outline of Australia | Yes |
| Preceded Matthew Flinders' map | Yes |
| Result of the Baudin expedition to Australia | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- The Freycinet Map of 1811 was the first 'complete' map of Australia
- The map was drawn by Louis de Freycinet
- It was the product of centuries of charting Australia's coasts
- The first map to use the title 'Australia' was by Matthew Flinders
- Flinders also proved Tasmania was an island, producing its first chart
The Freycinet Map of 1811 was the first 'complete' map of Australia
The Freycinet Map of 1811 was the first map of Australia to show the country's full outline. It was drawn by Louis de Freycinet and was the result of the Baudin expedition to Australia, which was approved by Napoléon Bonaparte. The voyage aimed to further scientific knowledge and make discoveries relating to geography and natural history. The expedition ships Géographe and Naturaliste were joined by Sub-Lieutenants Louis-Claude (Louis) de Saulses de Freycinet and his older brother Henri-Louis (Henri).
The expedition faced several challenges, including delays and problems in Isle de France (now Mauritius). They reached Cape Leeuwin on the southwest corner of Australia in early winter 1801. They then entered Geographe Bay, where they lost a longboat and a sailor. After sailing north, the ships became separated and only reunited when they reached Timor. The crew suffered from dysentery and fever, but they continued their journey, reaching Tasmania on January 13, 1802. They charted the entire east coast of Tasmania and interacted extensively with the locals.
The expedition then began surveying the south coast of Australia, but the Naturaliste, captained by Jacques Felix Emmanuel Hamelin, had to divert to Port Jackson due to shortages of food, water, and anchors. Despite these challenges, the Freycinet Map was published in the second part of the "Atlas Historique" in 1811 and is considered a 'full' map of Australia. It is important to note that the term 'complete' map is not entirely accurate for both the Freycinet and Flinders maps, as there were small gaps where inlets were missed or areas deemed too dangerous for close surveying.
The Freycinet Map predated Matthew Flinders' map of Australia, "Terra Australis," by three years. Flinders, along with George Bass, proved that Tasmania was an island and produced the first chart of the island and Bass Strait. He also named landmarks and waterways after those who assisted him, those who could be of service, his companions, and his friends and family, excluding himself.
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The map was drawn by Louis de Freycinet
The Freycinet Map of 1811 was the first map of Australia to show the continent in its entirety. It was drawn by Louis de Freycinet, a French Navy officer and the outcome of the Baudin expedition to Australia. The map was published in the second part of the Atlas Historique in 1811, three years before Matthew Flinders published his map of Australia.
Louis de Freycinet was born on 7 August 1779 in Montélimar, Drôme. In 1793, he joined the French Navy as a midshipman and fought in several engagements against the British. In 1800, he was appointed to an exploration expedition of the southern and southwestern coasts of Australia, under Nicolas Baudin, on the Naturaliste and Géographe. During this expedition, Freycinet captained the schooner Casuarina, surveying the Australian coastline.
The Baudin expedition to Australia was intended to further scientific knowledge and perhaps surpass the achievements of Captain James Cook. The voyage was formally approved by Napoléon Bonaparte, with the explicit purpose of 'observation and research relating to Geography and Natural History'. The expedition encountered several challenges, including dysentery and fever, and the death of a sailor, Assistant Helmsman Timothée Vasse. Despite these setbacks, the expedition successfully charted the east coast of Tasmania and interacted extensively with the Tasmanians.
Louis de Freycinet's talents as an officer and hydrographer were recognised during the expedition, and he was given important responsibilities in the final stages of the project. He collaborated with François Péron and naturalist Lesueur to undertake the cartography and produce the final volumes of the expedition report, which included the Freycinet Map.
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It was the product of centuries of charting Australia's coasts
The Freycinet Map of 1811 is considered the first map of Australia to be published showing the full outline of the continent. It was drawn by Louis de Freycinet and was the product of centuries of charting Australia's coasts by the Dutch, English, and French. The map was the result of the Baudin expedition to Australia, which was approved by Napoléon Bonaparte in March 1800. The expedition's explicit purpose was 'observation and research relating to Geography and Natural History'.
The Freycinet Map was preceded by other maps that contributed to the charting of Australia's coasts. For example, in 1622, Hessel Gerritsz, the chief mapmaker for the Dutch East India Company, created a map of the Pacific Ocean that showed part of Australia, although it was named New Guinea. In 1804, Matthew Flinders, a British navigator, and George Bass proved that Tasmania was an island and produced the first chart of the island and Bass Strait. Flinders also charted the coasts of the Australian continent and produced the first map to use the title 'Australia' or 'Terra Australis'. His map, published in 1814, was the first to give primacy to the name Australia.
Flinders' 1804 map was the first map of the Australian continent, but it did not show the full outline of the continent as the Freycinet Map would later do. Instead, it focused on the general chart of Australia or Terra Australis. Flinders' map was smuggled out of Mauritius, where he was imprisoned by the French for six and a half years, delaying its publication and impacting its prominence.
The Freycinet Map, published in 1811, built upon these earlier efforts and presented a complete outline of Australia. It was the culmination of centuries of exploration and charting by multiple nations, adding to the knowledge of Australia's coasts and contributing to the understanding of the continent's geography.
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The first map to use the title 'Australia' was by Matthew Flinders
The first map to use the title Australia was by Matthew Flinders, a British Royal Navy officer, navigator, and cartographer. Born in 1774, Flinders led the first inshore circumnavigation of mainland Australia, then called New Holland. He is also credited with being the first person to utilise the name Australia to describe the entirety of the continent, including Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania). Flinders regarded the name Australia as "more agreeable to the ear" than previous names such as Terra Australis.
Flinders charted the coasts of the Australian continent and produced the first map to use the title "Australia". With George Bass, Flinders proved that Tasmania was an island and produced the first chart of the island and Bass Strait. He was the first to chart the coasts of the Australian continent, proving that the east, New South Wales, was the same land mass as the west, New Holland.
Flinders' map, published in 1814, was titled "Terra Australis or Australia". It preceded the publication of the Freycinet Map of Australia by three years. The Freycinet Map was the result of the Baudin expedition to Australia, which was intended to further scientific knowledge and perhaps eclipse the achievements of Captain James Cook.
Flinders' life was one of high professional achievement balanced by bitter personal tragedy. His detention by the French on Mauritius for six and a half years separated him from his wife, Ann, delayed the publication of his charts, and effectively ended his career at just 29 years old. Flinders did not live to see the success of his widely praised book and atlas, "A Voyage to Terra Australis", which was published in 1810.
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Flinders also proved Tasmania was an island, producing its first chart
The first map of Australia was made by Matthew Flinders, who charted the coasts of the Australian continent. Flinders, with George Bass, also proved that Tasmania was an island, producing its first chart.
Flinders' encounter with some fishermen off Cape Wilberforce in north-eastern Arnhem Land in 1803 is the first documentary record of non-Aboriginal visitors to Australia. Flinders wrote about the encounter in his journal. The fishermen were from Macassar and were on a regular visit for béche-de-mer or trepang. Flinders was able to communicate with them through his cook, Abraham Williams, who was Malay.
Flinders' next voyage was to circumnavigate and chart the Australian continent. He was commissioned as Lieutenant-in-Command of the ship Investigator on 19 January 1801. Flinders charted the entire east coast of Tasmania and extensively interacted with the Tasmanians.
Flinders' map of the Australian continent, published in 1814, was the first to use the term 'Australia'. Flinders named landmarks and waterways after those who had assisted him, those who could still be of service, those who sailed with him, as well as family and friends. Notably, he did not name anything after himself.
The Freycinet Map of 1811, drawn by Louis de Freycinet, was the first map to show the full outline of Australia. It was the outcome of the Baudin expedition to Australia, which was approved by Napoléon Bonaparte and intended to further scientific knowledge.
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Frequently asked questions
The first published map of Australia was the Freycinet Map, produced in 1811. It was the first map to show the full outline of Australia.
The Freycinet Map was drawn by Louis de Freycinet and was the outcome of the Baudin expedition to Australia. It was the first published map of Australia as a continent.
Yes, there were earlier maps of the continent, but these were not published. The first map of Australia was created by Matthew Flinders in 1804. It was called the 'General Chart of Australia or Terra Australis' and was the first to use the name Australia.
