Tasmania is an island state of Australia separated by Bass Strait. The island is believed to have been occupied by indigenous peoples for 30,000 years before British colonisation. It is thought Aboriginal Tasmanians were separated from the mainland Aboriginal groups about 11,700 years ago after the sea rose to form Bass…
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Van Diemen’s Land
Van Diemen’s Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania in 1642. Landing at Blackman Bay and later having the Dutch flag flown at North Bay, Tasman…
View More Van Diemen’s LandNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia. The Colony of New South Wales was founded as a British penal colony in 1788. It originally comprised more than half of the Australian mainland in 1825. The colony then also included the island territories of New Zealand, Van…
View More New South WalesNorfolk Island
Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean. Together with the neighbouring Phillip Island and Nepean Island, the three islands collectively form the Territory of Norfolk Island. The first known settlers in Norfolk Island were East Polynesians but they were long gone when Great Britain…
View More Norfolk IslandHeard Island and McDonald Islands
Heard Island and McDonald Islands is an external territory of Australia comprising a volcanic group of mostly barren Antarctic islands. The islands are among the most remote places on Earth and are currently uninhabited. Discovered in the mid-19th century, the islands have been an Australian territory since 1947 and contain…
View More Heard Island and McDonald IslandsGay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands
The Coral Sea Islands Territory is an external territory of Australia which comprises a group of small and mostly uninhabited tropical islands and reefs in the Coral Sea. The territory includes Heralds Beacon Island, Osprey Reef, the Willis Group, and fifteen other reef/island groups. The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of…
View More Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea IslandsCocos (Keeling) Islands
Cocos (Keeling) Islands is an external territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean, comprising a small archipelago. The territory consists of two atolls made up of 27 coral islands, of which only two – West Island and Home Island – are inhabited. The territory’s dual name (official since the islands’…
View More Cocos (Keeling) IslandsChristmas Island
Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia comprising the island of the same name. It is located in the Indian Ocean. The first European to sight the island was Richard Rowe of the Thomas in 1615. The island was later named on Christmas Day (25 December) 1643 by Captain…
View More Christmas IslandThematic: First Issues
First issues relates to collecting the first postage stamp issued by any nation, province, city, army or other entity. The first postage stamp ever issued is considered the Penny Black. Prior to 1840, postage costs were very high and they were usually paid by the person who received the mail. The…
View More Thematic: First IssuesNorth Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea, like its southern counterpart, South Korea, claims to be the legitimate government of the entire peninsula and adjacent islands. In 1910, Korea was annexed by…
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