Australian Timeline 1788 - 1988

By Halokitten

  • First Fleet arrives in Sydney Cove

  • Explorers sighted and named the Blue Mountains

  • Second fleet arrived

  • Third fleet arrived

  • Matthew Flinders circumnavigated the Australian continent

  • Rum Rebellion

  • Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth crossed the Blue Mountains.

  • The name of our continent changed fro “New Holland” to “Australia”.

  • States of Australia (NSW, VIC, SA, TAS) were granted own constitutions.

  • The Victorian Gold Rush started at Ballarat and Summer hill Creek.

  • The Eureka Stockade

  • Saint Mary MacKillop founded Sisters of Saint Joseph

  • Uluru was first sighted by Europeans and named it Ayers Rock

  • Bush ranger Ned Kelly was hanged.

  • Completion of the railway network between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

  • “The Commonwealth of Australia” was drafted and accepted as a constitution by the U.K.

  • Australia becomes a Federation. Edmund Barton is our first Prime Minister.

  • The White Australia Policy was introduced (starting the stolen generation debacle)

  • Women could vote in Federal elections

  • Canberra was officially named as capital of Australia.

  • Australian soldiers are sent into World War I

  • Australian soldiers land at ANZAC Cove on Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

  • WWI ends - 60 000 Australians died.

  • Quantas is founded as an Australian airline.

  • Vegemite is first made!

  • The Harbour Bridge in Sydney is completed and opened.

  • WWII starts - Australian troops sent overseas.

  • WWII Battle of Kokodatrail - (Australian soldiers halt Japanese approach to Port Moresby).

  • Daylight savings time introduced.

  • WWII ends. Japan and Germany surrender.

  • Indigenous Australians allowed to vote.

  • Australian soldiers sent to Korea to help South Koreans in war.

  • Television is launched in Australia.

  • Australian troops sent to the Vietnamese war.

  • Australia recognised the PRC (China).

  • Opera house is opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

  • The white Australia Policy is dismantled.

  • Vietnam war ends.

  • Cyclone Tracy destroys Darwin.

  • Australia celebrates its bicentenary. New Parliament house opens in Canberra.