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European Exploration: Dutch
The first Europeans to sail were the Dutch (Netherlands). The Dutch only made one landing and got attacked. After that they stopped further exploration. -
European Exploration : British
Captain James hook sail around Australia. He named the are New South Wales and ignored the Aborigines living there and claimed that land for England. Sailors mapped eastern Australia. -
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Prisoners as Colonists
The American Revolution forced the British to stop sending the prisoners to Georgia so they believed Australia would be a good spot, no way to escape, no colonies around, and very few indigenous people. The British ship called the “First Fleet” left England to start a penal colony. -
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New South Wales
New South Wales was now officially a prison or penal. This colony was full of convicts, guards or marines, and the marines families. The British shipped criminals to Australia until 1868. Many free immigrants were settling down there. -
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Aborigines
Aborigines Went through their land and resources being stripped away from them. Remnants of the tribes in settled areas have been moved onto Reserves. In 1900 separation was a policy by the government and it lasted for decades. The federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines. -
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Port Arthur, Tasmania
This was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals. After they arrive at Australia, second offenders get re-offended. Some stories suggest some of them committed murder, which was punishable by death, just to escape the life in the camp. -
Commonwealth of Australia
The common wealth of Australia had been established. Non prisoner colonization continued. The major costal settlements had become 7 independent colonies. In 1861 the government created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place to this day. -
“White Australia”
The Restriction Act of 1901 was created and restricted migration to people mainly of European descent. Today, Australia is home to more than 200 countries. They created the policy “White Australia” so they couldn’t allow non-Caucasians into Australia but that has changed. -
Australia Today…
The Australia Act was passed and all legal ties with the British Empire were severed. Australia today is a parliamentary democracy and with Elizabeth II as queen. -
Australia Today…
Over half of voters didn’t want to become independent, to be exact, the percent of voters was 55%.