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captain James cook finds east coast of Aus
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" -
British Navy captain Arthur Phillip founds a penal settlement at Sydney.
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. -
Australia becomes the first country to introduce the secret ballot
Australia becomes the first country to introduce the secret ballot - or 'Australian ballot' - for elections. -
Australia and England play the first-ever cricket Test match
Australia and England play the first-ever cricket Test match in Melbourne -
Australia introduces new immigration laws
Australia introduces new immigration laws, restricting the number of unskilled workers allowed into the country -
October - John Howard wins prime minister
October - John Howard wins fourth term as prime minister -
Kevin Rudd sweeps to power with landslide victory over John Howard.
Opposition Labor Party, under Kevin Rudd, sweeps to power with landslide victory over John Howard. -
Government apologises to Indigenous
February - Government apologises for past wrongs committed against the indigenous population -
Julia Gillard becomes prime minister
June - Julia Gillard becomes prime minister, ousting Kevin Rudd in a Labor Party leadership challenge. -
Parliamentary elections fail to deliver a clear winner.
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.