Australia

By Carson Francis

  • Captain James

    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

    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.

  • Colony of Western Australia established

    Colony of Western Australia established at Perth by Captain James Stirling.

  • South Australia established

    South Australia established, with Adelaide as its capital.

  • Gold is found

    Gold is found at several locations leading to gold rushes throughout the decade. The population increases three-fold in 10 years to pass the million mark. An influx of Chinese leads to restrictions on their entry. Aborigines are treated very badly and their numbers collapse.

  • 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

    Australia and England play the first-ever cricket Test match in Melbourne.

  • The Commonwealth of Australia comes into being on 1st January.

    The country is unified. The Commonwealth of Australia comes into being on 1st January.

  • Canberra is founded

    Canberra is founded and designated as the capital.

  • Australia commits hundreds of thousands of troops to the British war effort.

    Outbreak of World War I. Australia commits hundreds of thousands of troops to the British war effort.