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40,000 BCE
First Aborigines
The first Aborigines arrive from south-east Asia. By 20,000 BC they have spread throughout the mainland and Tasmania. -
Dirk Hartog
Dirk Hartog landed on Australian soil, looking for trade routs -
Abel Tasman
Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman's, first journey to Australia. In 1644 Abel discovered that Australia was made up of 4 coasts North, West, South, East. The Australian state Tasmania was named after this famous exploer. -
Captain Cook charts the east coast
Captain James Cook charts the east coast in his ship HM Endeavour. Cook claims it as a British possession and names eastern Australia "New South Wales". -
First Fleet
British Navy captain Arthur Phillip funds a penal settlement at Sydney. He had arrived with a fleet of 11 vessels, carrying nearly 800 convicts. The Aboriginal population at the time is thought to number several hundred thousand. -
Period: to
Free Immigrants
Nearly 200,000 free settlers chose to migrate to Australia to start a new life. The majority were English agricultural workers or domestic servants, as well as Irish and Scottish migrants. These settlers formed the basis of early Australian society. -
Mathew Flinders
Mathew Flinders completes the first voyage around australia in the "Investigator". -
Western Australia is established
Colony of Western Australia established at Perth by Captain James Stirling. -
Period: to
Gold Rush
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Canberra becomes a capital
canberra is founded and designated as the capital. -
World War 1
Outbreak of World War 1.