The ENglish were not the first Europeans to explore Western Australia. In 1697, Captain Willem De Vlamingh of the Dutch East India company explored the Area, giving names to various landmarks in the region, including Rottnest Island and the Black Swan River (now called simply The Swan River). Both of these names have to do with certain animals located in these two places. THe Black Swans are obvious, but to what did Rottnest refer?
THe Quokkas on Rottnest Island.