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Trade with the Makasar
The Makasar people traded with the Aboriginal people. This was groundbreaking for both sides, because it marked the beginning of trade between Australia and Asia. They introduced items they did not have before. After 1901, the newly formed Australian Government banned trepangers from Makasar in order to encourage a local trepang industry. This was a terrific event as trade was established between the Aboriginal and Makasar people. -
Captain Arthur Phillip Establishes a Convict Settlement
On 26th January 1788 the First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson. This marked the starting of British settlement. It was the first time a convict settlement had been established in Australia. This was groundbreaking. This event is celebrated every year as Australia Day. This event caused conflict between the people of the First a Fleet and the first people of Australia. The event began the first convict settlement which marked the beginning of people arriving in Australia for settlement. -
Arthur Phillip
Arthur Phillip was a Royal Navy officer, the first Governor of New South Wales and founder of British penal colony hat later became Sydney, Australia. He sailed with the First Fleet, as Governor-designate of the proposed British penal colony of New South Wales. In February 1788 he selected its location to be Port Jackson. Phillip faced many problems when settling in New South Wales. He worked hard to stabilise the colony. Phillip left New South Wales in December 1792, in ill health. -
Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders was one of our greatest explorers. He was an outstanding sailor, surveyor, navigator and scientist. He was a considerate and self-sacrificing leader who looked after all under his command. In 1795 Flinders sailed to Australia. In 1798 he and George Bass, circumnavigated Tasmania, proving it was seperate from Australia. Many memorials to Matthew Flinders are found throughout South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. -
Merino Sheep Introduced
In 1797 the first merino sheep were landed in Australia. This was groundbreaking because unlike the earlier breeds, this Spanish variety was much better suited to the Australian environment and was a very good wool producer. The first Australian-produced fleece was sold in England. By the late 19th century wool had become Australia's major export. This industry has gone through cycles of extreme growth. Even today, Australia still produces more than half of the world's merino wool. -
Pemulwuy
Pemulwuy was a resistance fighter who led a war against the British. Because of his resistance to the invaders, he became one of the most remembered historical figures in Aboriginal history. He was a Bidjigal man from Botany Bay. He saw the damage done to the Aboriginals by the British. In 1790 he speared a convict named John McIntyre who was known for killing Aboriginals. Pemulwuy led many conflicts against the British. In a battle in 1797 he was shot but then escaped. He was shot dead in 1802 -
First Public Hospital in Australia
The first public hospital in Australia, the Rum Hospital was opened in 1816, in 1894 it was renamed as the Sydney Hospital. This was groundbreaking for many people because a limited amount of people would have access to a hospital and medicine in the old times so this was very helpful for people. Hospitals are continuing to improve and everyone has access to one. All staff and equipment are now in one place rather than one person carrying everything. This was a terrific event for many people. -
First Bank in Australia
As a penal settlement, the colony of New South Wales was intended to be economically self-sufficient (needs no outside help) but as the colony developed, formal financial institutions (banks) were needed to promote growth. In April 1817, Australia’s first bank, the Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac) opened in Sydney. This was a great step in Australia’s economic history. It helped in the growth of the country and improved relationships with other countries as well. -
New Zealand Becomes a Separate Colony
On 1st July 1841 the islands of New Zealand were separated from the colony of New South Wales and made a colony in their own right. This was groundbreaking for them. This ended more than 50 years of confusion over the relationship between the islands and the Australian colony. -
Saint Mary MacKillop
Mary went out to work at 16 years of age to support her younger siblings. At 18, she took a job as a governess. It was during this time that she met the man who would change her life, Father Julian Tenison Woods. Father Woods was a priest who shared Mary's dream of educating the poor. With Father Woods' help, she set up a school for poor children before going on to establish the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Today there are about 800 Sisters of St Joseph who work with the poor. -
Gold Rush
The discovery of gold in Victoria was in 1851. This event was groundbreaking as they found lots of gold and lots of migrants came to Australia. This event is still remembered because stories are still told. The gold rush increased the population and Australia became more multicultural. This was terrific for some people because some became rich and Australia’s population grew, but for some it was terrifying because there were diseases, poor conditions and some even died. -
Caroline Chisholm
At 22, Caroline married Archibald Chisholm. Later she moved to India with her husband. In India, she noticed bad behaviour from girls and decided to build a school. In 1834, she found the Female School of Industry for Daughters of European Soldiers. In 1838, Archibald became ill. So they moved to Australia. Seeing the difficulty of young women, she decided to help them. She helped over 11000 people find work. In 1854 she met Pope Pius IX, who gave her a Papal Medal for her humanitarian work. -
Eureka Stockade
The Eureka Stockade was a short battle which took place in Ballarat on 3rd December 1854. It was caused because the miners felt that the laws were unfair. The miners fought with courage and determination to defend their rights. Although the battle was lost, the war for greater equality for the miners was won. Some died. The Eureka Stockade helped create the Australian Democracy. The Eureka Flag is considered as a symbol of Australian Independence. -
Secret Ballot Introduced
Demands for electoral reform were a major political issue in Australia from 1840s and increased in intensity with the arrival of large numbers of men during the gold rush. Reform became a reality in 1856 with the passing into law of universal male suffrage in South Australia and the secret ballot in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Other Australian states followed soon afterwards, and the 'Australian Ballot' became an international precedent. -
Free Education Introduced
After more than a decade of effort, the Victorian Government wrested control of the colonial school system and passed the Education Act 1872. This legislation made Victoria the first Australian colony to offer free and compulsory education to its children. With the massive influx in population after the gold rush, it was apparent that the provision of education needed to change. In 1862 the Victorian Parliament abolished the two exising centralised boards and created a single Board of Education.
