The first known contact between Europeans and Aborigines took place on the west coast of the peninsula in 1606 . It was not settled by Europeans until the 19th century when fishing communities , then cattle ranches and later mining towns were started . The first known contact between Europeans and Aborigines occurred on the west coast of the peninsula in 1606 but it was not settled by Europeans until the 19th century when fishing communities , then ranches and later mining towns were established .