australia sporting history By tomcalderon23 Jan 26, 1788 1788 english colonise Aus Period: Jan 26, 1788 to Jul 26, 2017 australias sporting history 1832 first cricket match played in Australia 1858 auusie rules invented 1861 first melbourne cup raced 1867 first aboriginal cricket team to tour England 1880 the first cricket compition began in australai 1896 edwin flack won australias olympic gold 1908 Rugby union players became professionals 1930 phar lap won melbourne cup 1946 Australias golden era 1956 tv for the Melbourne olympics 1977 cricket world series begins 1980 first state of origin 1996 tri nations rugby 2000 sydney olympics 2000 cathy freeman wins gold 2002 steven branbury wins gold 2011 cadel evans wins tour de france