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No - because Tasmania is not a continent.

Matthew Flinders, together with George Bass, determined that Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's Land) was an island, and quite separate from the Australian mainland. Prior to this, sailors and explorers all believed that there was no sea passage between Tasmania and the rest of Australia.

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Q: Did Matthew Flinders prove that Tasmania is a continent?
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What was the the ship used by Matthew Flinders to prove that Van Diemen's Land was an island?

Matthew Flinders and George Bass proved Van Diemen's Land was an island by circumnavigating it in the Tom Thumb.


Who was Matthew Flinders?

Matthew Flinders was born on 16 March 1774 in Lincolnshire, England. He became a sea explorer, and arrived in Australia in the 1790s. Together with George Bass, Flinders completed much sea exploration around Australia, adding to the knowledge of the coastline, and producing accurate maps. Flinders, together with Bass, was the first to prove that Van Diemen's Land, or Tasmania, was an island and not connected to the mainland. Flinders was also the first to circumnavigate the continent, and between December 1801 and June 1803, he charted most of the coastline of Australia. The western half of Australia was previously known as New Holland, whilst the eastern half was known as New South Wales. Flinders first proposed the name "Terra Australis", which became "Australia", the name adopted in 1824. Flinders was captured by the French on the island of Mauritius in 1803. He was kept prisoner until 1810 on the grounds that he was a spy. He was finally released to return to England, but due to the ravages of his time as a prisoner, his health suffered and he died at the age of 40, on 19 July 1814. Before his death he completed a book on his travels called 'A Voyage to Terra Australis', and died on the day that his book was published. Flinders was also well known for his cat, "Trim", who accompanied Flinders between 1799 and 1804, when Trim died whilst Flinders was incarcerated. Trim was a great favourite with Flinders' sailors, and a little known manuscript from Flinders' writings emerged in the latter half of the twentieth century, and was later published under the name of "Trim". It was Flinders' personal account of his beloved cat.


What did Matthew Flinders name in South Australia?

On 28 January 1802, Flinders anchored in Fowler's Bay on the southern coast, and described it as "a well sheltered cove affording wood and water". He named it after his first lieutenant, Robert Fowler. Encounter Bay, at the mouth of Australia's Murray River, was charted and named by Flinders on 8 April 1802. It was named this as it was where Flinders encountered French sailor and explorer Nicholas Baudin, on his own epic voyage. Flinders did not actually find the mouth of the Murray: that was left to later explorer Charles Sturt, in 1830.


Why did Captain Cook go on his second voyage?

On James Cook's second journey which lasted from 1772-1775, he commanded the 'Resolution' and the 'Adventure' on an expedition to the South Pacific, in order to either prove or disprove the rumour of a great southern continent.


How can you prove you are not a witch?

You do not have to prove you are nota witch. Others have to prove that you are a witch. Even if you are a witch, or Wicca, there is nothing wrong with that (in the US).

Related questions

What did Matthew Flinders want to prove?

Matthew Flinders wanted to help George Bass prove that Van Diemen's land (Tasmania) was an island, and not joined to the Australian continent.


How did Matthew Flinders prove that Tasmania was an island?

Matthew Flinders and George Bass sailed across the top of Tasmania


When did Bass and Flinders prove that Tasmania was an island?

Matthew Flinders and George Bass circumnavigated Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) in 1798, thus proving it was an island.


What places did Matthew flinders explore?

Together with George Bass, Matthew Flinders completed much sea exploration around Australia, adding to the knowledge of the coastline, and producing accurate maps. Flinders, together with Bass, was the first to prove that Van Diemen's Land, or Tasmania, was an island and not connected to the mainland. Flinders was also the first to circumnavigate the continent, and between December 1801 and June 1803, he charted most of the coastline of Australia.


Who were Matthew flinders' companions?

No. Sea explorer Matthew Flinders always had a substantial crew. At one stage, even his brother Samuel travelled with him. He was also known for travelling with George Bass to prove that Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) was an island.


What was the the ship used by Matthew Flinders to prove that Van Diemen's Land was an island?

Matthew Flinders and George Bass proved Van Diemen's Land was an island by circumnavigating it in the Tom Thumb.


What was the purpose of Matthew Flinders exploring Australia?

Matthew Flinders arrived in Australia in the 1790s and commenced exploring and charting the coast of the continent. Together with George Bass, he circumnavigated Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), proving it was an island separate from the mainland. Between December 1801 and June 1803, Flinders charted the entire coastline of Australia, adding valuable information to the maps of the time. Australia was previously known as New Holland, and Flinders first proposed the name "Terra Australis", which became "Australia", the name adopted in 1824.


Why did Bass and Flinders travel south to Van Diemen's Land?

George Bass and Matthew Flinders did not just travel south to Van Diemen's land: they circumnavigated the island. Bass, in particular, theorised that Van Diemen's land was an island, and he and Flinders sought to prove this.


What did Bass and Flinders prove about Tasmania?

Prior to 1798, it was unknown if Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) was joined to the mainland of Australia, or if it was an island.In 1797 George Bass made an expedition to the south coast of Australia, reaching as far as Westernport. His observations indicated the strong possibility that there was a strait between the mainland and Tasmania.In 1798, Governor Hunter in Sydney commissioned Matthew Flinders and George Bass to return to Tasmania in the sloop Norfolkand attempt the first detailed survey of Tasmania, and hopefully to circumnavigate it.The voyage was a success and proved both that Tasmania was an island, and the existence of the strait - which was subsequently named for Bass.This knowledge had the added benefit that a ship using Bass Strait rather than sailing under the southern tip of Tasmania could cut a week off the journey time between Europe and Sydney.


Who was Matthew Flinders?

Matthew Flinders was born on 16 March 1774 in Lincolnshire, England. He became a sea explorer, and arrived in Australia in the 1790s. Together with George Bass, Flinders completed much sea exploration around Australia, adding to the knowledge of the coastline, and producing accurate maps. Flinders, together with Bass, was the first to prove that Van Diemen's Land, or Tasmania, was an island and not connected to the mainland. Flinders was also the first to circumnavigate the continent, and between December 1801 and June 1803, he charted most of the coastline of Australia. The western half of Australia was previously known as New Holland, whilst the eastern half was known as New South Wales. Flinders first proposed the name "Terra Australis", which became "Australia", the name adopted in 1824. Flinders was captured by the French on the island of Mauritius in 1803. He was kept prisoner until 1810 on the grounds that he was a spy. He was finally released to return to England, but due to the ravages of his time as a prisoner, his health suffered and he died at the age of 40, on 19 July 1814. Before his death he completed a book on his travels called 'A Voyage to Terra Australis', and died on the day that his book was published. Flinders was also well known for his cat, "Trim", who accompanied Flinders between 1799 and 1804, when Trim died whilst Flinders was incarcerated. Trim was a great favourite with Flinders' sailors, and a little known manuscript from Flinders' writings emerged in the latter half of the twentieth century, and was later published under the name of "Trim". It was Flinders' personal account of his beloved cat.


What did Matthew Flinders name in South Australia?

On 28 January 1802, Flinders anchored in Fowler's Bay on the southern coast, and described it as "a well sheltered cove affording wood and water". He named it after his first lieutenant, Robert Fowler. Encounter Bay, at the mouth of Australia's Murray River, was charted and named by Flinders on 8 April 1802. It was named this as it was where Flinders encountered French sailor and explorer Nicholas Baudin, on his own epic voyage. Flinders did not actually find the mouth of the Murray: that was left to later explorer Charles Sturt, in 1830.


Who circumnavigated Australia and proved it to be an island continent?

There are rally two answers to this question. The first sea explorer to circumnavigate Australia and prove that it did not touch any other land mass was Abel Tasman. However, he was a great distance from its shores for most of the time, so he had no idea of the nature of Austalia (or "The Great South Land") and whether or not it was a single continent. He just proved it was not part of Asia. Matthew Flinders circumnavigated Australia in 1801-02, proving it to be a single island continent. He had theorised that it might be split by a huge gulf or river, but his circumnavigation proved it was a single land mass, and an isolated continent.