-
European Exploration: Dutch
First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands) in 1606, but they didn't settle there -
European Exploration: British
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia -
British Ships
British ships called the "first Fleet" left England with convicts to establish a prison colony. -
British prisoners
British prisoners settled in Australia -
Period: to
New South Wales
New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines' families -
Period: to
Port Arthur, Tasmania
From 1833, until the 1850, 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 -
Commonwealth of Australia
Government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today -
New South Wales
British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868 -
Commonwealth of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia was established. -
Commonwealth of Australia
Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was Completed in 1927