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Australia Day
On January 26, 1788 a British Captain, with his 11 ships full of convicts, was heading to New South Wales and then Australia was founded. This then became Australia day since it was the day it was "founded" by the British. In recent times it has become controversial since it's a day celebrating the colonization of the continent's Indigenous people. -
The Gold Rush
On February 12, 1851 they discovered gold in a waterhole. Even more gold was discovered in what would become the neighboring state of Victoria. -
Eureka Stockade
A rebellion of the gold prospectors that clashed with the Australian government. -
The secret ballot
Australia was the first country to introduce the secret ballot for elections. -
Australia becomes Australia
On this day, after hundreds of years Australia is officially founded. -
First Prime Minister
Edmund Barton was the first prime minister of Australia after the election in March of 1901. -
Women's Suffrage
After decades of peaceful campaigning most women finally won the right to vote in The Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902. -
The Capitol, Canberra
On this day Governor-General’s wife, Lady Denman, announced that Canberra was the name of Australia’s new national capital. -
The Great Depression
Wall Street crash of 1929 led to a worldwide economic depression. The Australian economy collapsed and unemployment reached a peak of 32% in 1932. -
Port Arthur Massacre
A mass shooting that left 35 people dead and some 18 wounded. It was the country's worst mass murder and it led to stricter gun control.