James Cook did NOT "discover the eastern coast of Australia" as you state. Austalian Aboriginal people disovered and settled the east coast of Australia tens of thousands of years ago.
At best Cook MAY have been the first European to discover the eastern coast of Australia, and he certainly left us detailed records and maps. But there have been many claims that the Portuguese got here before him - though there is no definitive evidence for this as yet.
Cooktown in Far North Queensland is hosting a 48 day festival in 2020 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Endeavour's visit.
by jowyn (score: 0|6) 2014 days ago