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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples arrive in Australia, establishing a rich culture and connection to the land. -
Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon is the first European believed to have landed on the shores of mainland Australia, in the northwest region. -
Captain James Cook explores the east coast of Australia, which he calls New South Wales. -
The arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove in 1788 marked the official British colonization of Australia. The colony was initially established as a penal colony to relieve overcrowding in British prisons. -
The ‘Rum Rebellion’ overthrows Captain William Bligh. -
Gold is discovered near Bathurst, in New South Wales. -
The Eureka Stockade was a miner's rebellion in Ballarat, protesting against oppressive goldfield licensing fees and poor working conditions. -
Six colonies federated into the Commonwealth of Australia. -
The Stolen Generations refers to the period where a large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were removed from their families by government agencies and church missions. -
The Mabo decision is a landmark High Court case recognizing native title for the first time, overturning the "terra nullius" doctrine and impacting Indigenous land rights.