History of Australia

First Europeans

May 28, 1606

First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands) in 1606, but they didn’t settle there

James Cook

Jun 27, 1770

in 1770 Captain James Cook sailed around Australia

British ships

Dec 21, 1787

1787 – British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony

British prisoners

Feb 18, 1788

1788—British prisoners settled in Australia

New South Wales

Nov 17, 1788

1788to 1832: New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families

Reserves

Jan 3, 1830

1830s: remnants of the tribes in the settled areas were moved onto Reserves

British and Irish criminals

Jun 28, 1833

From 1833, until the 1850s, it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia.

government officials

Oct 29, 1861

1861: government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today

separation

Jun 7, 1900

During the 1900s, separation was an official government policy which lasted for many decades

Commonwealth

Jan 1, 1901

January 1, 1901: the Commonwealth of Australia was established.

Immigration Restriction Act

Jun 30, 1901

Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent

Melbourne

Sep 15, 1927

Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927

Aborigines

Sep 11, 1967

1967: federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines

Australia Act

Oct 27, 1986

1986: Australia Act -- all legal ties with the British Empire were severed