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The First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the 11 ships which landed at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788, to start the first European colony in New South Wales. It was a convict settlement, the start of a plan to transport thousands of prisoners to Australia. The fleet carried more than 1,300 people, consisting of convicts and their children, and marines and their families. This event helped make Australia a nation as the people of the First Fleet established the first settlement in Australia. -
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Colonial Australia
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Governor Phillip captures two Aboriginal men
Governor Phillip captures two Aboriginal men - Bennelong and Colebee. Colebee escapes but Bennelong is kept at Government House for five months. This event has helped Australia as it helped us to learn more about the Aboriginal people. -
The Rum Rebellion
On 26th January 1808, officers and men of the New South Wales Corps marched to Government House in Sydney in an act of rebellion against Governor William Bligh. Bligh was arrested and the colony was placed under military rule. This event helped change Australia as this was the only time in Australian history that a government was overthrown by a military coup. -
Australia’s first coin, the Holey dollar
Governor Lachlan Macquarie imported 40,000 silver Spanish eight-reale pieces to NSW. By having the centres stamped out of the coins, Macquarie distinguished them as belonging to the colony of New South Wales. This event helped to shape Australia as this created the first currency to be minted in Australia. -
Matthew Flinders mapped circumference of Australia
Matthew Flinders sailed around the circumference of Australia in 1814 and successfully mapped the perimeter of Australia. This event helped shape Australia as Matthew Flinders gave Australia its name, as it sounded "more agreeable to the ear". -
The Australian Gold Rush
When a speck of gold was found in a Victorian creek in 1851, gold fever took hold. In the years that followed, hundreds of thousands of people came to Australia from all over the world to try their luck in the goldfields. Entire towns grew around gold and the economy took off. This event helped shape Australia as it boosted the economy and helped bulid Australia's population. -
The Eureka Stockade
The Eureka Stockade was a civil revolt in 1854 in Victoria, Australia by gold miners against the officials supervising the gold-mining regions of Ballarat. The Eureka Stockade is now viewed as the birthplace of Australia's political system. Freedom of speech, the right to vote and political equality are the hallmarks of the historic uprising. -
Australia introduces the "secret ballot"
Australia becomes the first country to introduce the secret ballot – or ‘Australian ballot’ – for elections. This helped shape Australia as it became the main voting system for elections up until present. -
South Australia grants women suffrage
South Australia becomes the first Australian colony, and the second place in the world, to grant women’s suffrage. This event helped shape Australia as it allowed women to have the right to vote in elections. -
Federation of Australia
Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901 when six British colonies- New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania- united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. This process is known as federation. This helped assist Australia in becoming a nation as this established the six colonies coming together to form a nation.
