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European Exploration: Dutch
First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands). They didn't stay there. -
Captain James Cook Takes Land
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia. Cook named the area “New South Wales”
He ignored the Aborigines living there & claimed the land for England. -
Penal Colony
British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony. -
Settlers
British prisoners settled in Australia. -
New South Wales
New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families. -
Aborigines
remnants of the tribes in the settled areas were moved onto reserves. -
Port Arthur, Tasmania
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. -
Commonwealth of Australia
Government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today. -
“White Australia”
Restricted migration to people primarily of European descent -
Australia Today
The Australia Act severed all legal ties with the British Empire.
