Australia Timeline

James, Cook

Mar 31, 1770

1770: Captain James Cook sailed around Australia

British Fleets

Mar 31, 1787

1787; British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony

Prisoners Settle

Mar 31, 1788

1788; British prisoners settled in Australia

Picture for 1788--1832

Mar 31, 1788

New South Wales

Period: Mar 31, 1788 to Mar 31, 1832

1788 to 1832: New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families

picture for 1833--1850

Mar 31, 1833

British and Irish criminals

Period: Mar 31, 1833 to Mar 31, 1850

From 1833, until the 1850s, 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.

Common wealth

Jan 1, 1901

January 1, 1901: the Commonwealth of Australia was established.

Immigration Restriction Act

Mar 31, 1901

Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent

Aboriginies

Mar 31, 1967

1967: federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines

Australia Act

Mar 31, 1986

1986: Australia Act -- all legal ties with the British Empire were severed

Independant Republic

Mar 31, 1999

1999: 55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic.

Thomas made this timeline

Mar 31, 2016