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arrival of english explorer william dampier
William Dampier was an explorer, naturalist, author, hydrographer and pirate. -
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Australia
Australian history -
Smallpox epidemic
Smallpox has been one of humanity’s deadliest diseases, though it has now been eradicated. -
Blue Mountains crossing
In 1813 Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth and William Lawson became the first European settlers to successfully navigate a path across the Blue Mountains. -
First free press
On 4 June 1824 Andrew Bent printed and distributed the Hobart Town Gazette without the approval of the censor. This was the first time a newspaper had been published in Australia without government authorisation. -
Convict transportation peaks
Between 1788 and 1868 more than 162,000 convicts were transported to Australia. Of these, about 7,000 arrived in 1833 alone. -
NSW Native Police
In 1848 the New South Wales Government set up a Native Police force, consisting of Aboriginal troopers under European officers. They operated mainly in what is now southern Queensland, quelling Aboriginal resistance to European settlement. -
Australian Rules football
In the winter of 1858 students from Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar competed against each other in several games of football. These matches are credited as the first organised games of Australian Rules football. -
Castle Hill Rebellion
The Castle Hill Rebellion of 1804 was Australia’s first uprising.The rebellion was an attempt by a group of Irish convicts to overthrow British rule in New South Wales and return to Ireland where they could continue to fight for an Irish republic.