EREDIA MAP 1602 Ouro and luca.Antara Islands

Abstract

Europeans, the Dutch, ‘first discovered’ Australia in 1606. This paper claims there was probably an earlier Portuguese exploration of the Tiwi Islands in northern Australia around 1600. And it puts forward a novel bearing technique for comparing antique maps to corresponding modern publications. The technique is used to demonstrate that a 1602 map, by Emanuel Godinho de Eredia, then a leading cartographer, probably depicts these islands. Some background to Eredia and his map, plus the political background necessitating the survey, is outlined along with an assessment of the identity of the likely surveyor. Finally, detailed cartographical and topographical results are presented with a summary indicating their significance.