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History Major Task - Australian Government

  • Indigenous People

    Indigenous People
    Aboriginals have been living in Australia for over 60,000 years.
  • Captain Cook Arrives in Botany Bay

    Captain Cook Arrives in Botany Bay
    Captain Cook arrives in Botany Bay on the 'Endeavor' with 94 crew members. The explorer and his crew mapped out Australia and named Australia a British Colony, despite Aboriginals occupying the land.
  • The First Fleet

    The First Fleet
    After 3 months at sea The First Fleet lands in Sydney Cove under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip. There were 1480 convicts aboard.
  • The Lady Juliana

    The Lady Juliana
    The Lady Juliana arrives to the colony with supplies and Female Convicts.
  • Tasmania

    Tasmania
    Tasmania has been setup to hold the worst convicts, over 75,000 convicts were summoned to Tasmania as slaves. By 1835, 800 convicts were working in chain-gangs at Port Arthur.
  • Lachlan Macquarie

    Lachlan Macquarie
    Lachlan Macquarie creates Australia’s first police force. He organised the force into Districts with a watch house at each. By the year 1819 there were approximately 60 constables, whom most were former convicts.
  • Gold Rush

    Gold Rush
    Gold has been found in Bathurst, NSW, the first Gold Rush has begun.
  • Henry Parkes

    Henry Parkes
    Henry Parkes is elected to the Legislative council of NSW in 1854.
  • Right to Vote

    Right to Vote
    Men aged 21+ were given the right to vote.
  • Henry Parkes Speech

    Henry Parkes Speech
    Sir Henry Parkes was a politician and journalist. During his speech in 1889 he calls for a great Government for all Australia. He creates a public debate for the possibility of Federation.
  • Melbourne Conference

    Melbourne Conference
    Melbourne conference to negotiate National Convention.
  • Draft Constitution Bill

    Draft Constitution Bill
    Draft Constitution Bill for Federation of Australia introduced.
  • Women Given Right to Vote in Australia

    Women Given Right to Vote in Australia
    Women and indigenous Women given the right to vote in S.A.
  • Henry Parkes Dies

    Henry Parkes Dies
    27 April, Henry Parkes dies.
  • Federation

    Federation
    Australia’s commonwealth is created and Australia becomes federated. This means that the Australian colonies are no longer self-governing. Rather, Australia is united under the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1901.
  • Voting Compulsory

    Voting Compulsory
    Enrolment and Voting compulsory throughout Australia.
  • First P.M and Governer-General

    First P.M and Governer-General
    Australia welcomes its first Prime Minister and Governor-General Earl of Hopetoun.
  • Australian Flag

    Australian Flag
    In April 1901 an advertisement was placed in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette inviting people to design the Australian flag. There were 32,000 entries and one winning design was chosen as the Australian flag. It was flown in Melbourne for the first time on 3 September 1901.
  • Alfred Deakin

    Alfred Deakin
    Alfred Deakin becomes Australia’s second Prime Minister.
  • High Court

    High Court
    Australia’s first high Court has been established. As apart of Section 73 in the Australian Constitution 1901, the High Court was appointed after the Judiciary Act in 1903. In October the first case was heard in the Banco Court in Melbourne.
  • Chris Watson

    Chris Watson
    Chris Watson becomes Australia’s third Prime Minister. He soon resigned in 1907 and was replaced by Andrew Fisher.
  • George Reid

    George Reid
    George Reid has won the Election and is now Australia’s P.M.
  • Electoral Government

    Electoral Government
    Commonwealth electoral divisions were built under the Commonwealth Electoral Act. This provided the framework for electoral rolls and polling places.
  • Age Pensions

    Age Pensions
    Andrew Fisher introduces the old age Pension starting at age 65.
  • Saturday Elections

    Saturday Elections
    Elections to be completed on Saturdays only.
  • Postal Voting

    Postal Voting
    Postal Voting was put an end to. This was later brought back in 1918.
  • Joseph Cook

    Joseph Cook
    Joseph Cook wins the election carrying the majority of the votes.
  • Joseph Lyons

    Joseph Lyons
    Joseph Lyons and his United Australia party win the election.
  • Voting Change

    Voting Change
    Senate Voting system was changed to lack all options to be shown.
  • War Against Japan

    War Against Japan
    Prime Minister John Curtin declares war against Japan. Beginning of Australia's involvement in WWII.
  • Indigenous Right to Vote

    Indigenous Right to Vote
    Indigenous people allowed to vote and enroll at Federal elections.
  • Australia Gets Its own Currency

    Australia Gets Its own Currency
    Australia replaces the British Currency and creates its own decimal currency. The conversion and decimalisation asserted Australia's forward thinking.
  • Julia Gillard Becomes Prime Minister

    Julia Gillard Becomes Prime Minister
    Australia’s first Female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard has been Elected. A highlight during here time as Prime Minister was her 'misogyny' speech, standing up to sexism.
  • Malcolm Turnbull Becomes P.M

    Malcolm Turnbull Becomes P.M
    Malcolm Turnbull becomes Australia’s 29th Prime Minister.
  • Electoral Modification

    Electoral Modification
    Commonwealth Electoral Act modified, changing Voting Technique for Senators.
  • Federal Election in Dissolution

    Federal Election in Dissolution
    The July election was a close victory between the Liberal and Labor Party. Despite the Dissolution Malcolm Turnbull is the current Australian Prime Minister. Problematically, the Liberal Party does not have a clear majority of seats in the House of Representatives. This means that it is difficult for the Liberal Party to pass laws.
  • Bibliography

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