Why was Australia settled on the east first?

Question

Ok, I have a question. Why was Australia settled on the east coast first as it was geographically further from Europe than the west coast? I understand that the eastern half of the country was probably better suited for agriculture, but am curious by this anomaly that the political and economic center of the country is in the South Pacific and not closer to Europe. In the jet age this doesn't matter, but in the 18th and 19th centuries it did. Forgive me as I'm not Australian asking this.

Answer 1

Because James Cook discovered it and was the first white man to land on Australia. Also probably because it was the furthest place from Europe and seemed like the perfect place for convicts.

Answer 2

Thats where the first ship docked.

Answer 3

Sailing eastward, land was to be found to the north, so I think they would have been reluctant to sail to the really unknown south. This approach would have led them to the East Indies and New Guinea.  By that time they were well to the east of Australia although they probably didn't know it.

Just guessing.

Answer 4

Your right, but the guys that did come here first in the West of

West Australia were the Dutch...they had a look and said Blahhh

sand and more sand and more sand....... and anyway circumstances

took them away, and unfortunately never to return.

Perhaps it is time, that it was not kept like some kind of separate

history by Historians , but put in chronological order as to who got

discovered first, settled or not.

And you have picked up on a good point, this east and west thing

is always going on here...........for instance did you know West

Australia gives our Federal Gov. (in the East) most of our extra

earned benefits $$$$ from the Boom in our North , and we in the

West have to go without , and hope for a small percentage back

to do things in our state.?

Answer 5

simple Curiosity and Logistics gave rise to the Settle-ment of the East Coast.of Australia.

the 1st Explorers were known to have located the West coast , but `see-ing` that it was (perhaps) desolate and un-liveable , they reported back that it was not suitable to Settle.

more adventurous Explorers and Sailors guesed that if it was "barren" on one side , it must be "Fertile" ....some-where.... so , they went looking and found a suitable area and thus , Australia began her Life.

this is an abridged version though i think you will under-stand that it really was a matter of "some-one" going looking (investigating) and the rest is ... shall we say , History?     enjoy and i hope this helped you.

as to the Location of the Economic centre.....it`s a reflection of how all Economies operate.     you don`t want to build a Town in a place that is going to be a struggle to survive if you have an area that will `grow` with you and can be Developed (further) at a later date.