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Captain Cook claims Australia for British.
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First colony built in Sydney Cove.
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First free settlers arrive for a new life in Australia.
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New colony set up for convicts on Tasmania. Free settlers soon follow.
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By now, about half the people living in Australia were born there.
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Gold discovered in Australia-even more settlers arrive. Population now nearly half a million.
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A new province is set up-called Victoria
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Four of the five provinces of Australia granted "self government". They manage most of their own affairs but are still part of the British Empire.
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Queensland, the last colony to be created, comes into existence.
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By now all six provences or territories are "self governing"
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Now over 80% of people in Australia were born there. The six colonies meet to draw up a set of rules about how to run Australia as a united country, independent of Britain.
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The "Commonwealth of Australia" comes into existence. All the territories form one "Federation" with its own Parliament. But the British monarch remains the head of state !