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Willem Janszoon lands on Australia
On the 26th of February, 1606, Willem Janszoon, a Dutch explorer and navigator, landed on Australia for the first time. Willem was the first European to land on Australian soil (but he did not know that) and explore. He travelled on the ship Duyfken in search of new trading opportunities but landed on the continent of Australia, which they thought was a part of New Guinea (an island further north) and, consequently, named it New Zealand after one of their provinces, Zealand. -
Dirk Hartog Reaches Australia
While sailing to Jakarta, fierce winds blew the ship Dirk Hartog, a Dutch explorer, was on, misguiding him towards the Western Coast of Australia. He was trying to go to the island of Jakarta, in Indonesia (known then as Dutch East Indies), but landed on an island near Shark Bay, Western Australia. He is quoted, when landing on the coast, saying "...various islands, which were, however, found uninhabited..." . He, however, was the first European to leave a mark when he left, the Hartog Plate(WA) -
Tasmania discovered
While heading to New Zealand for new trading routes, Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer and navigator, discovered an island (Tasmania, as we now call it) that he thought was another island in the middle of the sea. He didn't claim it for the Dutch, however, but he named it 'Van Diemen's Land' after the Governer-General of the Dutch East Indies, Antonio Van Diemen. He did not know this island was part of Australia and continued sailing to New Zealand. -
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Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution marks the beginning of mankind's meet with machine. It is usually used to describe Europe's economic development during the 18th century. This is also one of the main reasons why Britian colonised Australia (overcrowded prisons due to machines taking over man's jobs). -
Captain James Cook lands on Australia
Lieutenant James Cook, along with 93 other crew members, were sent on the HMS Endeavour to record the transit, an astronomical even in which something passes over the face of the sun, of Venus in the South-Eastern Asia area. But, they were secretly sent by the government to search for the unknown southern land, or 'Incognito Terra Australis'. On 29 April 1770, they had finally found the southern land, which, they discovered while exploring and navigating, it was part of New Holland (Dutch). -
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American Revolution
The American Revolution was when the 13 colonies of America rejected the British monarchy and aristocracy and rebelled against British forces. This is mainly the reason why Britian colonised other countries including India, South Africa and Australia. -
Captain Phillip established a colony at Sydney Cove
3 days after the failure of Botany Bay, Captain Arthur Phillip decided to land at Sydney Cove, which was nearby in Port Jackson. Today, he finally landed there and establish a new penal colony for Britian. Most Australians calls this day 'Australia Day' as the British landing on Australia marked the birthday of Australia being the country it is now today. -
Captain Phillip arrives at New Holland
On the 23rd of January, 1788, the British first arrived at New Holland. Due to Joseph Banks, an English botanist, highly recommending the area, the first Fleet were supposed to land at Botany Bay. However, dangerous natural conditions and a rough landscape meant Captain Phillip had to choose somewhere else to land. Of course, he chose Sydney Cove, in Port Jackson. -
New South Wales
On January 26. 1788, the penal colony of NSW was established to support the overcrowded prisons in Britian and loss of America in the American Revolution. Captain Arthur Phillip had permission to colonise the entire western half of the continent. He called this entire western half 'New South Wales'. The eastern half was still a part of Dutch territory (New Holland). NSW was the first state; it was the centre for all British development of Australia. -
NSW extended to 129° E
The Dutch, during 1825, allowed permission for the NSW borders to be extended to 129° E from where it was originally. NSW had now covered 2/3 of the border. Later that year, Van Diemen's Land was established as a seperate penal colony. -
Van Diemen's Land established as a seperate colony
On the 3rd of December, 1825, the colony of Van Diemen's land was established as a seperate colony from NSW. Because of this, Van Diemen's Land had its own legal rights, laws and regulations (which was appropriate as they were an island) and could be known as a seperate state. -
Swan River Colony established
In 1825, Charles Fremantle, a Royal Navy officer aboard a ship to Australia, declared the eastern half of the continent of New Holland for Britian. Since the Dutch didn't bother to claim their part of land, they agreed to give it to Britian and the Swan River Colony (WA) was established. It was still a penal colony, however. -
Swan River Colony changes its name to Western Australia
Due to popular demand and to increase tourism and therefore income, the Swan River Colony changed its name to Western Australia to fit the theme of the other colony names. -
South Australia declared a free colony
A group led by Edward G. Wakefield, a politician, was inspired to create a free colony; a colony with just free settlers. Free settlers would have to buy land and their economic development would be based on trading and business unlike the colonies before them. E eastern border was declared on 132° E and the western border placed 2/3 between WA and the western border, with 1/3 section closest to WA. The northern border was declared on 26° E -
The colony of North Australia was established
The colony of North Australia was proclaimed by a letters patent, a document from a government / monarchy, from the monarchy. To this day, it is unknown why Queen Victoria, the queen at that time, established this. North Australia was all of NSW north of 26° S -
Colony of North Australia revoked
The colony of North Australia was revoked an reincorporated back into NSW. -
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American Civil War
This Civil War was when the Southern States of the USA rebelled against the Northern States because of unfair laws and arguments, such as slavery. During this period, the Southern States (also known as Confederates during this period) allowed convict income from Britian because they supported slavery, while the Nothern States didn't. This was the last time Britian was allowed to send convicts to America.
