-
In 1606 the first Europeans, the Dutch, arrived in Australia. They didn't settle there, because the Aborigines scared them away.
-
Captain James Cook sails around Austrlia and names one of the areas New South Wales. He also claimed the land for England, and ignored the Aborigines living there.
-
British was forced to stop sending prisoners to Georgia, so they thought that they could make Australia a penal colony. They sent out a group of ships called "First Fleet" with prisoners in 1777, and in 1788 the first British prisoner settled there.
-
The government officials decide to make Australia colony boundaries, and the ones that were made are still in place today.
-
The British stop sending prisoners to Australia in 1868. Many people have already set up businesses, trading posts, etc.
-
The Commonwealth of Australia was born, and joined six states under one constitution. The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 was also passed, and this restricted migration to people that were mainly European. This was removed after World War 2.
-
The federal government decide to pass a legislation to help the Aborigines. The Aborigines also changed Australia's history by demanding for rights such as: equal wages and the right to own their traitional land.
-
The Australian Act was put into play, and it cut off all legal connections to the British Empire ultimately allowing Australia to becoem a independent country.
-
55% of voters DID NOT want to become an independent republic.
-
Canberra is finally built and Melbourne becomes the former national capital while Canberra takes its place.
