Arthur Bowes Smyth - drawings from his journal `A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn …’, 1787-1789

Sir Joseph Banks — Endeavour journal, 15 August 1769 - 12 July 1771

The first known recorded use of the word kangaroo in the English Language

In the margin of the pages seen above the word “kanguru” can be seen. This is said to be the first recorded instance of the word “Kangaroo” being used in the English language. This was recorded on the 12th July 1770 near Cooktown in North Queensland, where the HMS Endeavour under the command of Lieutenant James Cook was beached for almost seven weeks to repair damage sustained on the Great Barrier Reef. During this time, Sir Joseph Banks spoke with the local Guugu Yimithirr people.

This is earliest known recording of an Indigenous language in the State Library collections made available through the Rediscovering Indigenous Languages project. Click here to visit the website and discover more language material with the State Library’s collection.

To found out more about Sir Joseph Banks’ Endeavour Journal in the State Library of New South Wales’ catalogue, click here.