In 1770 Capt. James Cook became the first European to sight Australia's fertile east coast, which he named "New" this
He then voyaged west, reaching the south-eastern coast 
of Australia on 19 April 1770, and in doing so his expedition became the first 
recorded Europeans to have encountered its... [DOC] [TLE] European exploration of Australia - Wikipedia [PAR] He mapped the north coast of Australia making observations on the land, which 
he called New Holland, and its people.