-
Cook lands in Botany Bay.
Captain Cook (then still only a lieutenant) lands in Botany Bay on the Eastern side of Australia in the ship named HM Bark Endeavour. and claims New South Wales for Britain. -
The First Fleet arrived
The First Fleet arrived in Australia. The expedition was led by Captain Arthur Phillip -
The Second Fleet arrived
The first ship in the second fleet arrived in Australia. The ship was called the Lady Juliana. It carried convicts. -
The Third Fleet
The first ship of the third fleet, the Mary-Ann, arrived in Australia. It carried female convicts and provisions. -
A new name
Matthew Flinders recommended the country to be referred to as Australia rather than Terra Australis. It took at least 10 years before this was widely accepted. The British Admiralty offically accepted the name in 1824. -
Federal Council established
The British Parliament passed the Federal Council of Australasia Act . New South Wales refused to join. -
Henry Parkes makes Tenterfield Speech.
At the Tenterfield School of Arts on 24 October 1889, Sir Henry Parkes gave a famous speech which called for the need of a national government. -
First Federal Convention
The Federal Convention meet in Sydney and a draft constitution is presented to the states. -
Referendum approved
The referendum was accepted into The Australian constitution -
British approval
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK) was passed on 5 July and on 9 July received full royal assent. -
Commonwealth
Separate colonies united to become Commonwealth States of Australia. A new nation is formed.
