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Pre-European Settlement
The arrival of the Aboriginal people to what is now known as Australia. At least 1,600 generations of these people had lived and died here. Their relationship and impact on the land gave us an understanding of Indigenous culture and society. -
1770
Captain Cook explores the coast of Australia and claims it for Great Britain, eventually leading to the arrival of the First Fleet. -
1778
On the 26th of January 1778, the First Fleet of 11 ships carried in 1,500 people (half of them were convicts) into Sydney Harbour. -
1851
Gold was discovered in New South Wales and central Victoria in 1851, drawing thousands of young men and some women from other countries looking for a fortune. -
1854
The Eureka Stockade in 1854 was a historically significant organised rebellion of the gold miners of Ballarat, Victoria. Resulting in the deaths of at least 27 people, it was the most significant conflict in the colonial history of Victoria. -
1880
After years of successfully outrunning the police, in June, 1880 the Kelly Gang deliberately staged a final confrontation at Glenrowan in Victoria with the police. Kelly had hoped this confrontation would stir up a rebellion of citizens against what he saw as an unfair legal system. Kelly was the only one to survive this confrontation, he was tried by Judge Redmond Barry and sentenced to death by hanging. On the 11th of November Ned Kelly was hanged in the Old Melbourne Gaol. -
1901
On the first of January, 1901, Australia's six states became 1 nation. Today Australia is now home to people from all over the world. This was also the day that Sir Edmund Barton officially became the first ever Prime Minister of Australia. -
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1914-1918
The First World War had a devastating impact on Australia. In 1914, there were less than 3 million men, yet almost 400,000 of them volunteered to fight in the war. It was estimated 60,000 died and tens of thousands were wounded. -
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1939-1945
During the Second World War, Australian soldiers and forces made a significant contribution of the Allied victory in Europe, Asia and the Pacific. The soldiers that fought in the war and survived came out of it with a sense of pride in Australia's capabilities. -
1956
The 1956 Summer Olympic Games were held in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. This was the first Olympic Games held in Australia. -
1967
It was in 1967 that Ronald Ryan was the last ever person to be legally executed by in Australia by hanging. Ronald Ryan was found guilty of shooting and killing prison officer George Hodson during an escape from Pentridge Prison, Victoria, in 1965. Ronald Ryan's hanging was met with some of the largest public protests in the history of Australia and led to the end of executions in the country. The death penalty was ended in Australia in 1985. -
1983
The 1983 America's Cup was a very significant day with Australia defeating America once and for all, ending the longest winning streak of 132 years in sporting history and ending U.S. domination of the racing series. -
1984
"Advance Australia Fair" has officially been Australia's national anthem since 1984 when it was changed from "God Saves The Queen" -
2010
On the 24th of June 2010 Julia Gillard was elected Prime Minister of Australia. She was the Australian Labor Party leader from 2010 to 2013. She was the first female politician to hold either position.
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