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Tasmania Explored
Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer discovers present-day Tasmania naming it after his sponsor, Anthony Van Dieman. The land was known as Van Dieman's land but it was later changed to Tasmania. -
Lieutenant James Cook claims the East coast for Australia
English Lieutenant James Cook's expedition in HM Bark Endeavour charts the eastern coast, and claims it for the British Crown -
The First Fleet Arrives in Botany Bay, Australia
The ships of the First Fleet reach Botany Bay to begin a penal colony. The colony was to include "all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean" and running westward to the 135th meridian east.This claim included the islands of New Zealand, which were administered as part of New South Wales. -
Penal Colony of Sydney Established
After the land of Botany Bay was found to be unsuitable due to lack of clean water and an unsafe harbor, a search began for a new location for the penal colony. A fleet of British 252 marines along with their families and 751 convicts accompanied by their children, led by Captain Arthur Phillip, landed in Sydney Cove, where the penal colony (a remote location for exiling prisoners) of New South WAles was established. Phillip was the governor of the colony. -
Australia Circumnavigated
Matthew Flinders became the first to circumnavigate Australia when he completed his voyage when he landed in Port Jackson where he had started the journey over a year beofre on May 9, 1803. -
Van Dieman's Land a penal colony
Van Dieman's Land became a penal colony and would transport slaves until 1853. -
Transportaiton abolished
Transportation of convicts (which was normally reffered to as simply "transportaion") to New South Wales was abolished and the abolishment of the transport to Van Dieman's land would follow in 1853 -
Tasmania renamed
Van Dieman's Land was officially renamed to Tasmania -
Last Convicts
Thought the specific date is unknown, in the year of 1868 the final shipment of convicts was sent to Australia specifically the penal colony of Western Australia. The total number of imported convicts numbered 162,000. These criminals had formed the labor force of the colony and were sometimes forced to work in unsuitable or dangerous conditions. Yet by 1868 convicts were no longer needed for Australia had grown to around one million residents and there were enough citizens to fill jobs. -
Silver discovered
A rider named Charles Rasp discovered silver ore in a "broken hill". -
Broken Hill established
The mining town of Broken Hill is established two years after Charles Rasp's discovery of silver ore in the area. -
The Commonwealth of Australia
Six British colonies came together to form the Commonwealth of Australia becoming an official country. Edmund Barton also came into power as the country's first prime minister on this day as well. -
Flight
The first flight from England to Australia was completed by Australian brothers Ross and Keith Smith -
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. -
Current Prime Minister
Julia Gillard was sworn in as Prime Minister. She is still currently serving as Asutralia's Prime Minister and can continue to do so as long as she is a member of parliament and can keep the support of the government.
