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The European Exploration: Dutch
In 1606 the first Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch, but they did not settle there. The Dutch made one landing, but was then attacked by Aborigines and decided to abandoned further exploration. -
European Exploration: British
In the year of 1770 Captain James Cook sailed around Australia. Cook ignored the Aborigines living there and named the area New South Wales. Cook then claimed this land for England. -
Prisoners as Colonists
Georgia was used as a penal colony at this time but the American Revolution forced the British to stop sending prisoners there. Great Britain than began looking for a new place to send it’s prisoners. They thought Australia seemed like a good choice because there was no chance of escape, no colonies were around there, and not many native people live there. -
New South Wales
New South Wales was now a prison colony containing mostly of convicts, marines, and the marine’s families. Woman only made up 20% of the first convicts. Prisoners were transported to Australia by the British until 1868. Many free immigrants were settling there by this time and building businesses, trading in post, farms, etc. -
The Perfect Colony
Great Britain noticed that Australia turned into a great vicinity to base it’s navy within side the South Pacific Ocean. It’s vicinity could make is viable for British ships to make repairs and also get supplies. Also there were many possibilities for alternate with Asia and the Americas. -
Aborigines
Aborigines went through stages of being conquered through an ‘invasion’ and taking of their lands. Aborigines were separated from society by European settlers. Some Aborigines where taken away from their families and placed into institutions and others were killed. In the 1830s they were forbidden from teaching their children their language and customs. Now many Aboriginal people do not know where they come from, what tribe they are descended from, and don’t know their parents/grandparents name. -
Port Arthur, Tasmania
Port Arthur, Tasmania was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish Criminals. It was also the destination of those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia from 1833 until 1850. -
Common Wealth of Australia
The major coastal settlements became 7 independent colonies. In 1861 boundaries were created for the colonies by officials that are still in place today. Then is 1901 the commonwealth of Australia was established. Until Canberra was completed in 1927 Melbourne served as the national capital. -
White Australia
A policy called “White Australia” was originally promoted by Australia. This meant non-caucasians were not allowed to immigrate to Australia. This has been in effect until the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901. This act stated that until after WWII migration was restricted only to people of primarily the European descent. Now Australia is home over 200 countries and has a global discriminatory policy. -
Australia Today
The Australia Act states all legal ties with the British empire were served. Today Australia’s queen is Elizabeth II and they have a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. In 1999 the idea of being independent was rejected by 55% of voters.