The Origin of Australia’s Name Through Early Spanish Exploration
The Great Powers Divide the World
In the 15th century, the Ottoman Turks closed the old trade routes between West and East, cutting off access to the priceless resources of the East. This forced European nations to seek alternative routes, ushering in the great era of exploration.
The Portuguese were the first to embark on this endeavour, navigating the West Coast of Africa in search of a passage to the Indian Ocean. After many unsuccessful attempts, Bartholomew Diaz finally succeeded, rounding the Cape of Good Hope in 1487 and breaking into the Indian Ocean. By December of that year, Diaz returned to Lisbon after a 16-month journey with the exhilarating news. However, it wasn’t until 1497–98 that Vasco da Gama followed Diaz’s route, crossing the Indian Ocean to reach Calicut in India.
The Treaty of Tordesillas
In the meantime, in 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic from Spain, discovering the West Indian Islands, which eventually led to the further exploration of America. With the Portuguese and Spanish vying for new discoveries, the risk of clashes became apparent. To prevent disputes over territorial rights, the two nations held a conference in 1494 at Tordesillas, under the mediation of Pope Alexander VI. It was agreed that the Pope would draw a line from North to South down the Atlantic, at 45 degrees west and 135 degrees east, to divide the world between them. The eastern half of the line was designated to Portugal and the western half to Spain.
The treaty established that everything west of the line would belong to Spain, while everything east would belong to Portugal, irrespective of who discovered it. This agreement avoided immediate conflicts but left other European nations, like France and England, excluded.
By 1529, as Portuguese explorers pressed eastward and the Spanish ventured westward, new discoveries inevitably brought the two nations closer to confrontation on the other side of the world. To address this, a second demarcation line was drawn from North to South through the Pacific at 147 degrees east. However, other European nations, particularly the French and the English, refused to recognise the treaty, viewing it as unjust. The French King Francis mockingly remarked that he would like to see the clause in Adam’s will that granted Spain and Portugal exclusive rights to divide the world.
Australia Divided by Papal Decree
Interestingly, a glance at the map reveals that the Pope’s original line nearly bisects Australia. If the decree had been followed, the eastern half of Australia would have been Spanish territory, and the western half Portuguese.
Some assert that the Portuguese kept their discovery of Australia secret because, under the treaty, they would have had to transfer the fertile eastern regions to Spain, keeping only the less desirable western portions for themselves. While this claim remains speculative, it is clear that by the mid-16th century, the Spanish and Portuguese were fully aware of the existence of the Great South Land, though they were cautious in their public declarations.
By 1567, Pedro Sarmiento, a prominent figure in Spanish exploration, stood as a symbol of Spain’s eagerness to explore and possess this mysterious and alluring land. The race for discovery, however, had only just begun.
Spanish Expeditions to the South
Pedro Sarmiento and the First Organized Search
In 1566, largely through the efforts of Pedro Sarmiento, an expedition was organised in Lima, the capital of Peru, with the express purpose of discovering the Southern Continent. The mission’s goal was described as “the discovery of certain islands, and a terra firma.” The term terra firma was used by the Spaniards to distinguish a continent from islands, and it is evident that the objective was to locate a landmass, which later exploration would reveal could only have been the Great South Land.
Had Sarmiento led the expedition himself, it is probable that Eastern Australia would have come under Spanish claim that year. However, he required the support of the Viceroy of Peru, Lope de Castro. Sarmiento was ultimately passed over in favour of the Viceroy’s nephew, Álvaro de Mendaña.
Mendaña’s First Expedition
In Australian histories, much attention is given to the voyage of de Quiros and Torres, whereas Mendaña is often overlooked. Yet Mendaña was the principal Spanish pioneer, and his expedition, which departed Peru on 10 January 1567, is notable as the first organised attempt by any nation to locate the Great South Land.
Had Sarmiento commanded the mission as initially intended, it seems likely that the expedition would have achieved its aim, and the honour of the modern discovery of Australia might have gone to Mendaña under Sarmiento’s strategic vision. However, Mendaña was significantly influenced by Gallego, the chief pilot, who favoured a more southerly route. This decision, strongly opposed by Sarmiento, ultimately altered the course of the expedition.
As a result, the voyage ventured far from the potential coasts of Australia. Although Mendaña’s journey laid groundwork for future exploration, the Great South Land remained an elusive prize for the time being, its discovery postponed by navigational decisions and internal disputes.
Discovery of the Solomon Islands
The expedition, to Sarmiento’s dismay, took a more northerly route than the one he had envisioned. Missing the Great South Land entirely, they instead discovered a group of islands. In an effort to attract settlers to the new land, and to demonstrate its significance, the Spaniards named it the Solomon Islands, hoping to evoke the fabulous wealth of King Solomon and his legendary mines of gold. They assured potential settlers that these islands were rich with treasures, and that their wealth could secure Spain’s dominance. But this promise was unfounded, and the Solomons failed to live up to their name.
Mendaña’s expedition returned to Peru in disappointment, though they did succeed in identifying other islands. After coasting back to Peru via Mexico on 22 June, 1568, Mendaña’s faith in finding the Great South Land was not weakened. Instead, he became determined to mount another expedition. Despite his enthusiasm, the demands of money, time, and colonial priorities delayed his next opportunity. It would not be until 27 years later, in 1595, that Mendaña was granted his second chance.
Mendaña’s Second Voyage
This second expedition aimed to establish a colony on San Cristobal, one of the Solomons, before continuing to explore and attempt to locate the fabled Great South Land. The voyage consisted of four ships, with Mendaña’s wife, Doña Isabel de Barreto, and her brother, Don Lorenzo de Vega, among the passengers. They departed Callao, Peru, on 9 April, 1595, and soon discovered new islands, which Mendaña named the Marquesas in honour of the Marquis de Mendoza, Viceroy of Peru. The group even called the Queen Charlotte Islands by name, but the Solomons, the main objective, continued to elude them.
After five months of difficult navigation, on 7 September, the fleet anchored off an island they thought to be part of the Solomons. Mendaña named it Santa Cruz, a name signifying hope. The island was promising, with friendly inhabitants and fertile land, making it an ideal candidate for settlement. Misunderstandings and tensions between the Spaniards and the islanders quickly escalated, forcing Mendaña to abandon the colony.
As tensions grew, the settlers began to lose confidence, and the voyage descended into chaos. Mendaña, stricken by illness and the burdens of leadership, passed away at sea before he could see his vision fulfilled. His dream of discovering and claiming the Great South Land was left unrealised.
Despite his efforts, Mendaña’s expeditions stand as a poignant reminder of the difficulties faced by early explorers. His dedication to locating and colonising the Great South Land demonstrates the enduring allure of this mysterious continent and its place in the imagination of the Age of Exploration.
Doña Isabel Takes Command
The expedition was now adrift in the vast Pacific. Their survival and ultimate homeward journey were largely thanks to the courage, energy, and leadership of Doña Isabel, Mendaña’s widow. Summoning the remaining officers of the fleet to a council, she rallied their confidence and assumed command.
Declaring herself “Governess,” she based her authority on her late husband’s title and resolved to continue the search for the Great South Land.
In the year 1595, with her fleet reduced to three ships, Doña Isabel charted a bold course to the Philippines. Her leadership in navigating the Pacific remains a notable feat, and her resilience deserves a place in the annals of Australian history, as the elusive Great South Land remained beyond reach. Severe privations and the loss of most of the crew forced the fleet to reach Manila in early 1596. There, the expedition disbanded, and Doña Isabel returned to Peru, finding the colonial authorities unwilling to finance another attempt.
The Southern Terra Firma would have to wait for another generation to be explored.
Quiros and Torres: The Final Spanish Attempts
Pedro Fernández de Quiros Takes the Baton
Exploration, it has often been said, is like a relay race, with one explorer carrying the “flag” a certain distance before passing it to another to continue the journey. After Mendaña’s failure, the baton was taken up by Pedro Fernández de Quiros, a navigator who had served as chief pilot on Mendaña’s second expedition.
By birth, Quiros was Portuguese, but he received his education and training in Spain. He was a devout Catholic and a zealous missionary, driven more by his religious fervour than practical skill. Despite his unsuitability as a leader, he became passionately dedicated to discovering the Great South Land. Quiros wrote, “It was the ambition of my life to discover it. Nothing daunted me.“
Upon his return to Peru after Mendaña’s failed expedition, Quiros began petitioning for a new voyage. However, his proposals met resistance from both colonial authorities and the Spanish Government. After persistent lobbying in Spain, Quiros finally secured an audience with Pope Clement VIII in Rome. Gaining the Pope’s support by presenting a cross and holy water that had been blessed, Quiros eventually won reluctant approval for a new expedition.
The 1605 Expedition
Thus, in 1605, Quiros set sail from Callao, Peru, with three ships: the San Pedro y San Pablo, the San Pedro, and a tender called the Los Tres Reyes. His deputy was Luis Vaez de Torres, who proved to be an able and practical seaman. Quiros declared his mission to “find the Southern Continent,” and with “two good ships and a launch,” they departed on what would become one of history’s most ambitious and legendary voyages.
Under the command of Captain Pedro Fernández de Quiros, with Luis Vaez de Torres as his deputy, the fleet set sail on a westerly course. Along the way, many islands were discovered. Some were visited peacefully, while on others, the Spaniards faced hostility. On 1 May 1606, they sighted what appeared to be a landmass of continental size. Quiros was convinced it was the Great South Land.
The First Landing and Proclamation
On 3 May, Quiros sailed into a large bay and anchored. The next day, after a skirmish with the native inhabitants that forced them to withdraw, Quiros resolved to formally claim the land. On 5 May, he landed with all available crew to conduct the ceremony. The Spanish flag was raised and saluted with musket fire. Quiros knelt on the ground, kissed the earth, and, placing his hand upon it, proclaimed:
“O land, sought for so long; intended to be found by so many; and so desired by me!“
In his official declaration, Quiros announced,
“I take possession of this bay of St. Philip and St. James, and of its port Santa Cruz, and of the site on which is to be founded the city of New Jerusalem. I take possession of all the lands I have sighted, and all lands to the south as far as the Pole, which from this time shall be called La Austrialia del Espíritu Santo.“
Today, this proclamation holds historical significance. Quiros believed he had reached the Great South Land. It is thought that his term “Austrialia,” referencing the House of Austria to honour the Spanish King, has been misinterpreted by some as a reference to modern “Australia.”
In his memorial to the King of Spain, Quiros wrote passionately:
“For the happy memory of your Majesty, I give you a land rich with potential, and as far as the eye can see, a place destined for greatness and glory in the name of Spain.”
Despite Quiros’s hopes, the land he had claimed was not the Great South Land, but rather Vanuatu. His dreams of finding and colonising the elusive southern continent were unfulfilled, yet his voyages remain a critical chapter in the story of exploration and discovery.
The Origin of Australia’s Name
For the sake of Austria’s honour, Pedro Fernández de Quirós named his discovery La Austrialia del Espíritu Santo, in reference to the House of Austria and its connection to King Philip of Spain. The name was an homage to the King’s Austrian heritage through his mother and his marriage to an Austrian princess.
When the idea of a Southern Continent eventually gained global recognition, the name underwent various adaptations. The British Government, upon the suggestion of explorer Matthew Flinders and supported by Governor Macquarie, adopted a variation of Quirós’ name and officially referred to it as Australia. The name itself, however, had been used previously by Spanish navigators.
Torres Continues Alone
On 28 May 1606, Quirós departed from his harbour at Espíritu Santo, eager to continue exploring the coasts of the supposed Great South Land. However, just two weeks later, on 11 June, he vanished into the night. According to Torres, Quirós set sail without giving notice or signal. Speculation arose that the crew, frustrated by hardships and disillusioned by the lack of progress, may have persuaded Quirós to abandon his mission and return to Mexico. There, Quirós declared to King Philip that he had indeed discovered the Great South Land, though what he had actually found was the island group now known as the New Hebrides (modern Vanuatu). His claim was widely accepted despite its inaccuracy.
Meanwhile, Torres continued his journey, having no illusions about the country he had discovered. Following a west-southwest course, Torres braved fierce winds and treacherous seas, eventually reaching a latitude of 21 degrees south. Battling rough conditions, his crew suffered from starvation and exhaustion, forcing Torres to turn north. He later reached a point near the coast of New Guinea, sailing through a strait that now bears his name, the Torres Strait.
Torres recounted the voyage, stating, “We had at this time nothing but bread and water. It was the depth of winter, with sea, wind, and ill-will against us. All this did not prevent me from reaching 20 degrees latitude, and I would have gone farther had the weather permitted.” His determination and use of navigational charts – suggesting prior knowledge – led him to the south coast of New Guinea, before sailing along its shoreline to the Philippines and eventually to Manila.
Had the Spanish pressed further, they might have claimed the Great South Land for themselves. Instead, their efforts faltered, and the Dutch became the next formidable force in the region, seizing the opportunity to dominate the Southern Hemisphere’s exploration and trade routes. Thus, Spain’s chance to lay claim to Australia’s shores was lost.
