Question: Which island state was originally named Van Diemen’s Land?
Answer: Van Diemen’s Land, a southeastern Australian island colony, was eventually renamed the commonwealth state of Tasmania. It was named after Anthony van Diemen, the governor general of the Dutch East Indies. The island was first encountered by Europeans in 1642 and was named by Abel J. Tasman, a celebrated navigator under van Diemen’s command. The first British settlers in the early 19th century kept the name.
