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Captain James Cook charts the east coast in his ship HM Endeavour. Cook claims it as a British possession and names eastern Australia "New South Wales"
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British Navy captain Arthur Phillip founds a penal settlement at Sydney. He had arrived with a fleet of 11 vessels, carrying nearly 800 convicts. The Aboriginal population at the time is thought to number several hundred thousand.
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Australia becomes the first country to introduce the secret ballot - or 'Australian ballot' - for elections.
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Australia and England play the first-ever cricket Test match in Melbourne
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Australia introduces new immigration laws, restricting the number of unskilled workers allowed into the country
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October - John Howard wins fourth term as prime minister
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Opposition Labor Party, under Kevin Rudd, sweeps to power with landslide victory over John Howard.
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February - Government apologises for past wrongs committed against the indigenous population
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June - Julia Gillard becomes prime minister, ousting Kevin Rudd in a Labor Party leadership challenge.
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August - Parliamentary elections fail to deliver a clear winner. Prime Minister Gillard clings to power after securing support of independents to form a minority government.