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70,000 BCE
Indigenous Australians Travel to Australia
Around 70,000 years ago, the first Australians traveled from Africa to Australia. This was the first open ocean crossing known about in the history of humanity. -
60,000 BCE
Evidence that people were living in Kakadu National Park
That has been evidence that Indigenous people have been living in Kakadu National Park for around 60,000 years. We know this because there are rock paintings which are at least that old. -
50,000 BCE
Earliest evidence of human occupation
The earliest evidence of human occupations dated back to around 50,000 years ago. This means that different people in the tribe did different jobs. This is also 10 times older than the Egyptian Pyramids. -
50,000 BCE
The people started trading for different things
The Indigenous people first started trading between tribes to get different tools, foods and most importantly, ideas. -
48,000 BCE
Indigenous Australians had rock shelters
Around 48,000 years ago, the Indigenous people used rock shelters. One of the oldest rock shelters found in Australia is called Madjedbebe. The Indigenous people pushed out parts of large rock shelters make a shelter with pillars. This was 40,000 years before Stonehenge. -
45,000 BCE
Oldest evidence of spiritual belief
It has been found that there has been some form of spiritual beliefs over 45,000 years ago. This mainly includes the Dreamtime beliefs and stories. -
42,000 BCE
Mongo Man and his people lived
Mongo Man is the oldest person ever found in Australia and he is around 42,000 years old. It is believed that he was a very important person in his country because his body was well preserved. We can tell that he was around 50 years old when he died and around 1.7 metres tall. He had arthritis on his right elbow which was probably from repeatedly throwing a spear. His arms were crossed in his lap and he was sprinkled with red ochre. Mungo Man is the oldest known evidence of this kind of ritual. -
40,000 BCE
There were predators in Australia
Megafauna predators such as giant kangaroos, birds and reptiles existed and were a threat to the to people living in Auatralia. We know this because there have been rock paintings by the Indigenous people of these ancient predators which date back to 40,000 years ago. Therefore, the Indigenous people lived with these dangerous creatures for quite some time. -
40,000 BCE
Rock art was made
Around 40,000 years ago, the first rock art was created. This is among the oldest rock art ever discovered and it was at Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. It was found at a large rock shelter which would have been the home of Indigenous people. -
35,000 BCE
The first tools were made
The Indigenous people started making ground edged tools. They mainly used rocks and broke off sharp parts to make different tools for different purposes. For example, they used sharp rock bits for the tip of a spear. -
30,000 BCE
First intricate rock carvings were made
Ancient, intricate rock carvings which were made by the Indigenous people of the land was discovered at Murujuga. These rock carvings are around 30,000 years old. From this, we know that Aboriginal people were extremely clever to be able to make these carvings so detailed. They also knew which rocks were suitable for their carvings which is why they haven't faded away after all this time The area contains over 1 million engravings. -
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution in England caused many people to move to the city to find a better job. This lead to more poverty, diseases, stealing and overcrowded jails. Since the jails were so full, a new place was needed for the convicts. So, the British set out to start a new colony at the southern land they had stumbled across before. -
Lieutenant James Cook claimed Australia for the British empire
In 1770, Captain Cook landed in Australia on the HMS Endeavour. His official mission was to make astronomical observations, but he was also given the secret mission to find out if the southern land was real. When he did arrive in Australia, he mapped the east coast and claimed it for Britain. -
Brtish Colonisation
In 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip, the leader of the First Fleet, arrived in Botany Bay. The 11 ships carried more than 1480 convicts, crew and free settlers as well as needs for the trip and materials to start the new colony. Arthur Phillip was given instructions to set up the establishment and also became the first Governor of Australia. When they arrived in Australia, they met the Indigenous people previously living here. -
Gold Rush
The Australian Gold Rush began in 1851. This lead to many people from many countries to come to Australia which greatly increased the population of Australia by around 1.6 million people. -
Commonwealth of Australia was official
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act came into effect. Before this event, Australia was not a nation. This was when the colonies came together to become one country, with the same laws, taxes and government. -
Stolen Generations
During the Stolen Generations, the British took many children from their families since they wanted to turn the children 'white'. This lead to the children being traumatised for the rest of their lives. Some even died from illness. The children were taught English, girls worked as maids, boys worked at factories and they were generally mistreated and did not have a good life in England. -
Kevin Rudd's Sorry speech
In 2008, Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of the time, gave a sorry speech where he apologised to the Indigenous people for the stolen children. Every year on the 13th February is National Sorry Day and we think about and apologise for the Stolen Generation and the other horrors which happened to the Indigenous peoples of Australia.
