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History of Austrailia
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European Exploration of the Dutch
The first Europens to sail to Austrailia were the Dutch. They were from the Netherlands. They did not settle there because the attack on them by the Aborigines. Because of this they left any further exploration. -
Exploration of the British
In the early 1770s Captain James Cook sailed around Austrailia. He named the area he found New South Wales. He and his crew ignored the Aborigines living there and took it over for England. Sailors also mapped the eastern Austrailia. -
First Fleet
British ships called the "First Fleet" left England with convicts to establish a prison colony. Later in 1788, British prisoners settled in Australia. -
Port Arthur, Tasmania
From 1833, until the 1850s, it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish crimnals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia. In addition, Port Arthurhad some of the strictest security measure of the British penal system. -
Common Wealth
Nonprisoner colonization continued... Major coastal settlements became 7 independent colonies. In 1861, government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today. -
More on the Aborigines
During the 1900s, seperation was an official government policy which lasted for many decades. Today, many Aboriginal people who do not know their origins: which tribe they are desended from or the names of their parents and or grandparents. They are a lost generation. -
Commonwealth of Australia
On January 1, 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was established. Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927. -
White Australia
Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent. This was dismantled after the Second World War. But, today Australia has a global, non-discriminatory policy and is home to people from more than 200 countries. -
The Aborigines
In 1967, a federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines. It was widely seen as affirmation of the AAustrailian people's wish to seee its governmnet take direct action to improve the living condition of Aborigines. In March, striking Aboriginal farmers changed political history by extending on demand for equal wages to a declaration of their rights of ownership of traditional lands. -
Austarilia Act
All legal ties with British Empire were served. Today, Australia is a parliamentary democracy (constituonal monarchy) with Queen Elizabeth II as the queen. In 1999, 55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming and independent republic.
