Explorers of Australia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Named Australia's highest mountian

Interestingly, Pawel Strzelecki arrived in Australia on what would later become an extremely important historic date - 25 April (ANZAC day). Strzelecki explored Gippsland (to the east of Melbourne), Tasmania and named Mt Kosciuszko after the Polish national hero, Tadeusz Kosciuszko (1746-1817).

Answer: John Batman

Through John Batman's capture of Bush Ranger Matthew Brady, and other exploits, in Tasmania, John Batman received land grants. Batman wanted to secure land in the Western Port area but it was refused so he moved further on, finally settling on what is now known as Melbourne.

Answer: Len Beadell

Len Beadell was a surveyor who was given the job of finding a suitable place to undertake the Woomera Rocket Tests, controversial tests by the British, and he spent many years searching alone in the bush for the site.

Answer: Douglas Mawson

Douglas Mawson, with Edgeworth David and Alistair Mackay were the first explorers to climb Mt Erebus as well reaching the Magnetic South Pole.

Answer: George Bass

Phillip Island is now a tourist hot spot. It began as a farming community, especially noted for its chicory crops. (Chicory kilns are still widespread on the island). It has an established Fairy Penguin colony that has sunset viewings of the penguins returning to their rookeries.

Another feature of the island was its seal colonies which of course in times gone by attracted sealers. It still is a major venue for surfers the world over.

Answer: Andrew Thomas

Andy (Andrew) Thomas was born in Adelaide, Australia and was employed by NASA from 1992. Thomas was involved in a number of flights including a 10 day mission for Spacelab, a mission of over 140 days involving the Space Shuttle Endeavour and serving on Mir. Andy had two other space travels during his career.

Answer: Arthur John Smith

In 1906 Arthur John Smith discovered mineral ore deposits at Radium Hill in South Australia. Smith first thought it was tin oxide so he sent samples to Adelaide University to confirm what it actually was. The geologist who identified it as uranium was Douglas Mawson, who later himself became a famous explorer.

Answer: Peter Egerton Warburton

Peter Warburton undertook a number of explorations in the late 1850s and 1860s before undertaking the amazing exploration from Adelaide to Perth, Western Australia. Warburton went from Adelaide to Alice Springs, taking about six months, and then set off for Western Australia. This trek was almost totally in the desert where they had to handle extreme heat, lack of water and lack of food, which resulted in the team eating their camels.

Answer: William Gosse

William Gosse was employed by the South Australian Government's survey department. Gosse's role was to map and plot middle Australia's partly discovered area. In July 1873 Gosse discovered and named Ayers Rock. (At the time the present Northern Territory was part of South Australia).

Answer: Captain William Mynors

Captain William Mynors named Christmas Island as he passed by it in his ship, the Royal Mary, whilst working for the British East India Company in 1643.

Pieter Goos was a Dutch mapmaker who was the first person to include Christmas Island in the charts in 1666.

William Dampier was the first person to explore the island and report it as being uninhabited.

Captain John Maclear, aboard HMS Flying Fish, named the Cove which is now the settlement on Christmas Island.