Extract from "Discovering Australia's Christian Heritage" - Col Stringer

Have you ever wondered why Australia was not colonised long before it was? Why didn’t the Muslims colonise this place, after all they were visiting our shores for hundreds of years before the Europeans came? And what about the Hindus? They came and colonised Bali, which is but a few hundred kilometres across the Arafura Sea from Australia’s north coast. Doesn't it seem strange that this huge, almost vacant continent was left untouched for thousands of years? It’s almost as though this massive continent, situated in the most populated area on earth, was invisible. I believe, again like many of my ancestors, that God has kept this nation for Himself, for such a time as this.

Southland Of The Holy Spirit - An Honour Bestowed On No Other Nation

In the year 1606 Capt. Pedro Fernandez de Quiros gave this continent the name “Australia del Espiritu Santo” or literally “Southland of the Holy Spirit”. In the Bible Hebrew names not only indicate character but also happenings and even the destiny of those granted that name. What does this suggest for the destiny of Australia? No other nation on earth has been blessed with the title "South Land of the Holy Spirit"!

In fact de Quiros’s actual proclamation was as follows: “Let the heavens, the earth, the waters with all their creatures and all those present witness that I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros…..in the name of Jesus Christ ...... hoist this emblem of the Holy Cross on which His (Jesus Christ’s) person was crucified and whereon He gave His life for the ransom and remedy of all the human race…. on this Day of Pentecost, 14 May 1606….. I, take possession of all this part of the South as far as the pole in the name of Jesus…. Which from now on shall be called the Southern land of the Holy Ghost

Editor's note - the English words first came as "A note of Australia del Espiritu Santo. Written by Master Hakluyt." - published by Samuel Purchas in 1625 - Purchas, vol. iv, p. 1422-32. Captain de Quiros’s actual words had been "La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo" - believing he had reached the land he had been seeking - Terra Australis - he later stated that he'd had his Spanish monarch (from the house of Austria) in his mind as he dedicated this land of the South to the Holy Spirit. But quite ironically (for him), he was standing east of Australia in Vanuatu as he spoke - and Austria literally means "Eastern Kingdom". Still the Holy Spirit was doubtless involved in this irony (which we, somewhat like an audience, can also now see). Only one letter, the letter "i" needed to be removed to correct the focus - Austrialia to become Australia - and the English translation - click here for the evidence (archived) - gets it right. "We do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Holy Spirit pleads our case for us. .. I must decrease ☺" End note.

…. and this always and forever ......and to the end that to all natives, in all the said lands, the holy and sacred evangel may be preached zealously and openly.” (Michael de Looper, Fernandez de Quiros, Understanding Our Christian Heritage).