What was the original name of Tasmania?

Tasmania has undergone several name changes since the Europeans discovered it.

However, prior to the first sighting by Europeans, the island had been inhabited only by the Aboriginal people for 35,000 years. The reconstructed Palawa kani language name for Tasmania is Lutriwita

Upon sighting land on 24 November 1642. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman named the island "Anthoonij van Diemenslandt" after his sponsor Anthony van Diemen, the Governor of the Dutch East Indies. The name was later shortened to Van Diemen's Land by the British. It was officially renamed Tasmania in honour of its first European's discovery and to remove the stigma of having been known as a harsh penal colony for 50 years.

Tasmania was sometimes referred to as "Dervon", as mentioned in the Jerilderie Letter written by the notorious Australian bushranger Ned Kelly in 1879. The colloquial expression for the state is "Tassie". Tasmania is also colloquially shortened to "Tas", especially when used in business names and website addresses. TAS is also the Australia Post abbreviation for the state.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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47 Comments

Janette Will

Sally Smith, Lutriwita is the original Aboriginal name of Tasmania, as pointed out in the explanation. As an Australian this is known to many Australians. It was also known as Van Diemens land in the 18th/19th century. A terrible penal colony where by great grandmother was transported to from Ireland. Personally I prefer the name Lutriwita as it celebrates its indigenous origins.

Claire Ching

The question clearly states 'Original' name... so while it may have been know as ' Van Diemen's Land'.. it already had a name before then. There was no need to specify Aboriginal.... clearly they were in Australia well before any explorers from the rest of the world went there.

Raymond Hodge

Born in Tasmania in 1961 and have never heard this name and never seen it in any history book. It appears another grab from those who want to take the land, at no cost to them, as they believe they are original land owners. FACT Aborigines were the traditional land caretakers for the next generation not the land owners.

Howard Groopman

Picked the only one I'd never heard of.

Mozzie Tsolaks

This is new for me! The History books i had never had the indigenous name, its nice to know.

Shay

I'm Australian and was not taught this. It was always Van Diemens Land. There was no mention of Aboriginal names for that or the mainland. Even now there is no talk of it. It took me some time to even find the information online about it and even then it was rehashing this site.

Alwyn Mckenzie

Always was, always is and always will be Aboriginal Land.Raymond Hodge,

Helga U. Williams

Since the other three were not viable options for me, it was easy to pick this one! I had never heard of that name before! 🙄

Karin Johansson

Sue Grayson, No the last ice age was in that area until around 40,000 years ago.

Karin Johansson

Deniece Bang, or maybe the not educated ones. You talk about modern names, when there has people around 20,000 years or more. Tasmania is not the original name, neither are Van Diemens land!