-
First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands) IN 1606.The Dutch made one landing, were attacked by Aborigines, and abandoned further exploration. -
James Cook left England to explore the South Seas. He explored and mapped parts of eastern Australia. -
1770: Captain James Cook sailed around Australia, Cooks called the area "New South Wales". He ignored the Aborigines living there and claimed land for England. Sailors also mapped the coast eastern Australia Tasmania. -
1788 to 1832: New South Wales was officially a penal (Prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines' families. -
From 1833, until the 1850's, it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals those who were secondary offenders having reoffended after their arrival in Australia. -
The Gold rush in the 1850's that attracted thousands of new settlers brought more conflicts with Aboriginal people and hundreds more deaths. -
The commonwealth of Australia was established. -
The federal government began to pass legislation to help the aborigines
-
Australia act- all legal ties with the British Empire were severed.
-
55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent Republic.
