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50,000 BCE
First occupation of the continent
Aboriginal people are supposed to come from South East Asia around this time. They exploited the whole country and were subivized in lots of tribes with several languages. They shared the same faith in the legend of the "Dreamtime" which was the world's creation time. The olders broadcasted stories about spirits and connections with the nature to the next generations. They met between clans to swap or for rituals. -
Britains' arrival
In 1770, James Cook, a british explorer berthed in Australia, on the east coast. The Great Britain settled the country and displaced his convicts to this new land because they had no more place in Europe. At the end, they were 160000 prisoners on the island and were given very bad treatment, espacially towards women. Settlers came and took the aboriginals' territories in force. They also brought their european diseases and it disturbed the local population. -
The discovery of gold
The country has been settled by numbers of migrants who started to implement and developed cities along the coast. Some of them received a land and made farms. Step by step, Australia became attractive and more inhabited. In 1851, gold has been discovered in actuals New South Wales and central Victoria states. From this moment, plenty of boats of people from all countries and environments came. The government tried to curb this arrival by setting up policies and an army. -
Australia's independance
This year, the Austalia brought together the six british colonies into one country of six states. Melbourne will be the provisional capital city for ten years before Canberra. It is a federal state and since 1902, women can also vote. -
Post World War Two
After the end of the second World War, people across the world moved to Australia thanks to a government's policy. There are jobs, the sector of the manufactury is growing, the all country is in expansion. The economy goes well and several long term projects are blowing up. Exports such as wool, metals, meat,... rose. -
First Australian space program
During the Cold War, Australia is a pioneer of the space race and is the fourth country to send a satellite. Few years later, NASA is going to use Canberra's and Parkes' observation post for their Apollo 11 mission. If Australia helped the first steps of the space age, she is now quite dormant. -
Reforms by the Labor Party
This year, a lawyer, Whitlam, took the head of the country after it has been ruled by the Country and Liberal Party since the end of the War. He set reforms about universal health care, divorce, women's rights and school fees. -
Economic trouble
The rate of unemployment and the debt are increasing. Hawke ruled Australia by this time and adopt hard reforms. It worked until the 2007 economic crisis. Afterwards, the conditions improves. -
National apologizes
Kevin Rudd is elected in november 2007. The following year, he pronounced a speech to apologize to Aboriginals people and what they made to them, the mistreatment they have been given during years. For the first time, White peoples say it outloud and in front of the entire country. Some people say that the prime minister wasn't heartfelt and that it was only strategical. -
The Black Saturday
Australia is a very dry country and the outback take most of the continent's territory. In february, there was an unusual heat wave in Victoria and bushfires started. Because of the temperature and the lack of water, they couldn't stop them. More than 231 people died this saturday, it was the most criminal fire they had known.
