Australian History Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dirk Hartog

Dutchman Hartog landed in 1616 on the island that now bears his name, in Western Australia, and left an inscribed pewter plate nailed to a pole as a calling card. de Houtman and Thyssen also landed in Western Australia in 1619 and 1627, respectively. All three were off-course from their original destination of Batavia (now Jakarta). Nice navigation, guys, you only missed by 5000kms!

Dampier was an English privateer who landed in NW Western Australia in 1688.

Answer: To observe the transit of Venus from Tahiti

Cook was a prolific explorer. In 1757, he charted the St Lawrence River in Canada and the following year he was given command of the HMS Endeavour. His 'secret' agenda was to ascertain the existence of the 'Great Southern Land'. He left Tahiti in 1769 and discovered New Zealand, claiming it for England.

Heading west, he sighted Terra Australis (Australia) on April 19, 1770 and claimed the entire country when he landed on Possession Island (in Queensland) on August 22 the same year. On subsequent voyages he became the first person to see Antarctica, and he did extensive charting of the west coast of what is now Canada and USA.

He was killed by natives on the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii) in 1779.

Answer: Jean-Francois de La Perouse

La Perouse was another explorer who did much in the Pacific area, travelling the American west coast as far as Alaska, visiting Japan and Samoa before arriving in Botany Bay, Australia. He left a few weeks later, never to be heard of again, although it is believed that his ship was wrecked on the Solomon Islands. A suburb of Sydney still bears his name.

Answer: John Macarthur

He arrived in Sydney in 1790 and was granted land in what is now Parramatta. Because part of his Corps duties was the allocation of convicts to landholders, he gained considerable influence in the colony. Macarthur imported Merino sheep from Spain, and bred them into some of the finest wool producers in the world.

Answer: Hobart, Tasmania

Hobart was founded in 1804 by Lieutenant-Governor David Collins, who led a group of settlers and convicts. It was named after Lord Hobart, British Secretary of State for the Colonies. Hobart Town was used as a base for seal hunters and whalers.

Melbourne was founded in 1835, Perth in 1829 and Adelaide in 1836. Sydney was the landing site of the First Fleet, in 1788.

Answer: Blue Mountains

Escaping convicts were convinced that if they crossed the mountains they could arrive in China. Instead Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson discovered the very fertile lands of the Australian interior. Their successful crossing opened the way for many further explorations.

Answer: Albany

The outpost, first mapped by Vancouver in the 1790's, was primarily to discourage French interest in the area. Later it became principally known for its whaling industry.
The Swan River Colony, later renamed to Perth, was established two years later, and convicts were still being transported there as late as 1868.

Answer: Lord Howe Island

The island, which is part of New South Wales, was discovered in 1788, but was only used as a provisioning base until several Europeans and Maoris set up home there. Just south of the island is Ball's Pyramid, the tallest single rock in the world. In 1982, the entire island was listed as a World Heritage site, because of its unique flora and fauna.

Answer: Caroline Chisholm

She pressured Governor Gipps to provide her with accommodation and assistance for newly arriving young women, establishing the 'Female Immigrant's Home' in 1841. Her face graced the first five dollar note, issued in 1967.

Answer: Gold

Gold had previously been discovered as early as 1823 but news of this discovery was suppressed for fear of a convict uprising. These strikes had a remarkable effect on the population of Victoria in particular, with the colony expanding fourfold in a very short time.

The Eureka Stockade rebellion of 1853- a short but bloody battle between miners led by Peter Lalor and police- was one of the first steps towards gaining rights for the 'common man'.

Answer: Granny Smith

Maria Smith developed this yummy treat in Tasmania, and later in Eastwood (a Sydney suburb). A lovely shade of green, they are crunchy, long-lasting and delicious in apple pies.

Answer: Truganini

Over 4,000 Aborigines were 'eradicated' in the forty years after Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) was settled by the white man. Wooraddy was her husband, who pre-deceased her, and Wybelanna was the name of the settlement that her people were forcibly moved to.

Answer: Glenrowan, Victoria

Hero or villain? Australia's answer to Robin Hood or Jesse James still polarises opinion today. He was sentenced to die for the murder of a policeman, but he had been pursued and harassed mercilessly by the law for most of his short life. He was only 26 when he was executed at Old Melbourne Gaol with his famous last words allegedly being "Such is life".

His life and death have been the subject of many movies, books and even postage stamps, with many featuring his distinctive suit of armour.

Answer: Shearers

A strike in 1891 was partially resolved, but the shearers were not happy. The catalyst was the attempt by the Pastoralist Association to reduce wages, and to have the control of the shearing crews given to the station owner. Contract labour (scabs) were brought into play, and were being shipped to the sheds on the steamer 'Rodney'. Unionists stormed the boat on the Darling River, the scabs lost the ensuing brawl, and the ship was put to the torch.

The situation was exacerbated by the shooting death of a young shearer, Billy McLean, and emergency legislation had to be introduced by Parliament.

This was the start of unionism in Australia, and also inspired A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson to write the famous 'Waltzing Matilda'.

Answer: Miles Franklin

She was born in New South Wales in 1879, and "Career" was released 22 years later. It is a semi-autobiographical book, telling of a young woman growing up in the country plains of the Australian outback. On her death in 1954, she bequeathed her estate to the annual award that bears her name- the Miles Franklin Award- awarded to the best book depicting Australian life.
Judy Davis starred with Sam Neill in the film version, released in 1979.

Answer: A donkey named Duffy

Simpson and his donkey rescued many wounded, until he was killed 22 days after landing. He was technically AWL after four days, because his C.O. had not seen him, but after he learned what Simpson was doing, he turned a blind eye. An ongoing campaign to have Private Simpson posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross has been stalled by British Army officialdom ever since, but hopefully it will happen one day.

A true hero in every sense of the word!

Answer: Southern Cross

The best known Southern Hemisphere constellation, it features on the flags of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Brazil and Samoa. It is known to astronomers as 'Crux Australis'.
'Smithy' was a legend in the early days of flight, establishing many firsts in long-distance flying, but did you know that he could down a beer while standing on his head?
He disappeared near Burma in 1935 while trying to break his own record for the England-Australia run.

Answer: Jack Lang, New South Wales Premier

de Groot thought that such an important event should be carried out by royalty, not a 'lowly' Premier. He was arrested and taken to an insane asylum, where he was found to be sane. He was charged with offensive behaviour, and fined 5 pounds.
The 'Coathanger', as the bridge is affectionately known, is one of the largest arch bridges in the world, and contains six million hand-made rivets. Together with the nearby Sydney Opera House, it has become the focal point of Sydney.
Did you know that Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) was a rigger on the bridge before he made his acting debut?

Answer: 48-215

Canbra (the phonetic spelling of the national capital) and Emu were just two of several suggestions that were rejected. During the production stage, the vehicle was simply known as the '320'. The first car, an ivory-coloured sedan, rolled off the line in November of 1948, and Australians were soon clamouring to buy one.

The company changed its name from 'General Motors-Holden Automotive' to 'Holden Ltd' in the 1990's, completing the circle back to 'J.A. Holden and Co.', the name of the Adelaide saddlery business that started in 1856. The '3801' is a famous steam train that used to operate around Sydney.

Answer: Victa lawnmower

All of these were invented by Australians, but Richardson's lawnmower was the only one that made its appearance in 1953. Powered by a small Villiers motor, it sold 350 units in its first year and 5000 in the second. Seven years later, 140,000 noisy mowers were spoiling weekends for householders (and their neighbours) everywhere.

The Victa brand launched another world first in the 1970's when they developed the rear grass-catcher.

Answer: Harold Holt

Holt began his political life in 1935 as the representative for Fawkner (Victoria). His career was interrupted by World War II, when he enlisted in the Australian Infantry Force. He held various portfolios in the Menzies government, and became leader of the Liberal Party, and Prime Minister when 'Pig-Iron Bob' (Menzies) retired.
His love of sport led to his presumed death in December, 1967, when he disappeared off Cheviot beach, Portsea, Victoria, while swimming in strong surf. His body was never recovered.

Answer: Tracy

The hit song about the tragedy, 'Santa Never Made it into Darwin' was released by Bill and Boyd early in 1975. Over 50 lives were lost when Tracy demolished the city at dawn on Christmas Day and more than three quarters of the population of the city was evacuated to southern cities. Did you know that more bombs were dropped on Darwin in WW2, than on the whole of American territory?

Answer: Australia II

Originally called the Hundred Guineas Cup, the Americas Cup was held by the Americans from 1851 until the Alan Bond-sponsored Australia II won it for the Royal Perth Yacht Club, Western Australia. We did not hold the glory for long, however, with Connor winning it back in 1987, aboard 'Stars and Stripes'.

Answer: That Australia should become a republic

For a referendum to become law, a majority of voters in a majority of states is required. This did not happen, with only the Australian Capital Territory voting 'Yes'. While many Australians see the links to Britain as an anachronism, the question was phrased in such a way that the position of 'President of Australia' would have merely been a figurehead of the government of the day.

The electorate decided to retain the status quo.

Answer: Betty Cuthbert

Known as the 'Golden Girl', Cuthbert won three Olympic gold medals at the 1956 Melbourne Games, and added the 400 metres gold to her collection in 1964 (Tokyo).
I would never be forgiven if I did not mention that my daughter was part of the Closing Ceremony; an experience that she will never forget!