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50,000 .Bc
The first settlers are thought to have arrived around 50,000 years ago. This would have most likely been at a time when the sea levels were low, the land was more humid and animals larger. -
1606
The first European sightings of Australia were made by a Dutchman called Willem Janszoon on the Duyfken (Little Dove). Janszoon sailed into the Australian waters charting 300 km of the coast on the journey. Janszoon also met with the Aboriginal people on the journey. Janszoon was the first recorded European to achieve such feats. -
1642
Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman's, first journey to Australia. It was in 1644 that Abel Tasman established that Australia was made up of four coasts North, West, East and South. The Australian state of Tasmania was named after this famous explorer. -
1770
Captain cook lands in Botany Bay on the Eastern side of Australia in the ship named HM Bark Endeavour. and claims New South Wales for Britain. -
1788
The First Fleet arrives at Sydney Cove under Captain Arthur Phillip to establish the first settlement in Australia. -
1813
Barrier of the Blue Mountains Crossed. -
1803
Mathew Flinders completes the first voyage around Australia in the 'Investigator. -
1941
Curtin's appeal to USA for help in the World War marked the end of the special relationship with Britain. -
1974
Whitlam abolishes 'white Australia' policy. -
1988
Australia celebrates its Bicentennial - 200 years since the first European settlement. 1991