History of Australian By Ryan.Swain97 1604 Enclosure acts began in Britain 1760 Steam powered machinery was invented. Industrial Revolution began. 1775 Convicts stopped being sent overseas to America 1785 House of Commons decided NSW was suitable as a penal colony. 1786 Captain Arthur Philip was chosen to lead the First Fleet 1787 The First Fleet left on 13th May 1788 Arthur Philip was Governor of the colony 1790 Two more fleets arrived 1793 First free colonists arrived 1800 Huge growth in population, poverty and crime 1810 Governor Lachlan Maquarie arrived. Construction of roads and buildings began 1911 Australia wholly divided into six colonies