What is Van Diemen's Land?
{{Infobox Islands |name = Van Diemen's Land |image_name = Van Diemen's Land 1852.jpg |image_caption = 1852 map of Van Diemen's Land |location = [[Southern Ocean]]|coordinates = {{coord|42|00|S|147|00|E}} |area_km2 = 68,401 |highest_mount = [[Mount Ossa]] |elevation_m = 1,614 |country = United Kingdom <small>(in 1855)</small> |country_largest_city = [[Hobart, Tasmania|Hobart Town]] |country2 = |country2_admin_divisions_title = |country2_admin_divisions = |country2_largest_city = |population = 40,000 |population_as_of = 1855 |density_km2 = |ethnic_groups = [[Tasmanian Aborigines]] |}} [[Image:Tasmania 1644.png|thumb|300px|1663 map of Van Diemen's Land, showing the areas seen by Tasman, including [[Storm Bay]], [[Maria Island]] and [[Schouten Island]].]] '''Van Diemen's Land''' was the name used by [[Europe]]ans for [[Tasmania]] before it was known it was an island. Tasmania is now a state of [[Australia]]. The [[the Netherlands|Dutch]] explorer [[Abel Tasman]] was the first European to chart some coasts of Tasmania. He named the land '''''Anthoonij van Diemenslandt''''' after [[Anthony van Diemen]], the Governor-General of the [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch East Indies]]. Van Diemen had sent Tasman to explore the extent of the presumed south land in 1642. In 1803, the island was settled by the [[British Empire|British]] as a [[penal colony]]. It was called Van Diemen's Land, and became part of the British colony of [[New South Wales]]. In 1824, Van Diemen's Land became an [[independent]] colony with [[George Arthur]] as the first Governor.<ref>{{cite book | last = Bereson| first =Itiel | title =Building The Nation: From colonies to federation | publisher = Echidna Books| date =2001 | location =Port Melbourne | pages =8 | isbn =1863912665 }}</ref> In 1856 Britain changed the name to Tasmania, an alternative name that had been shown on some maps and used by the community for decades. It was formally changed at the request of its citizens. Britain also gave the