-
1606
First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch, but they didn’t settle there -
1770
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia -
1787
British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony -
1788
British prisoners settled in Australia -
1788-1832
New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families -
1833-1850
it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia. -
1861
government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today -
1868
British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868 -
1901-1927
the Commonwealth of Australia was established.
Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927 -
1967
The federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines