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First Europeans to sail Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands) in 1606
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Captain James Cook sailed around Australia
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British ships called the "First Fleet" left England with convicts to establish a prison colony
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British prisoners settled in Australia
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New south wales was officially a penal (prison) conlony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines' families
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From 1833-1850, it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals
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British transported prisoners to australia until 1868
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The commonwealth of Australia was esrablished
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federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines