Poster 1930 anmm

Brief History of Australia

By hyrainakintau

  • British claim possession

    Captain James Cook reached the southern coast of NSW. Then sailed north, landing at Botany Bay before charting the Australian Coast to the tip of QLD; declaring the entire eastern half of 'New Holland' a British possession

  • Penal Colony

    Britain sent first fleet (11 ships with 1500 people; half were convicts) under the command of Arthur Philip to Australia. This comes after Britain lost US (who won their independence) as a potential dumping ground for convicts.
    Penal Colony: a settlement used to exile convicts by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colony.

  • Penal Colony

    The fleet arrives at Botany Bay however as the land was deemed unsuitable for settlement, they moved north to Port Jackson.

  • Self-governing colonies

    Following penal transportation and immigration, Australia became a collection of six colonies; NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS. By 1860 NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and TAS were granted partial self governance. In 1890 WA was granted self- governance
    All six colonies, each ruled by a governor on behalf of the British Parliament, had their own governments and laws. However British Parliament retained the right to pass laws concerning colonies, with the ability to over-rule laws made by colonial parliaments.

  • Penal Colonies turned land of hope

    160 000 men and women were brought over to Australia as convicts until penal transportation ended in 1868. During mid-18th century, the labour shortages, new wealth in farming and mining in Australia attracted more immigrants.

  • Towards Federation (Drafting the Constitution)

    By the 1890s colonial leaders began working towards uniting the colonies. The Australian Constitution was drafted through a series of conventions (meetings).

  • Passing of the Constitution Act

    Delegates went to London with a draft of the Australian Constitution to present to the British Parliament. The British Parliament pass the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, giving effect to the Constitution.

  • The Commonwealth of Australia

    It was proclaimed on 1 January 1901 in Centennial Park, Sydney. Sir Edmund Barton was sworn in as the interim Prime Minister, leading an interim Federal ministry of nine members.