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In 1770 Captain James Cook charts the east coast in his ship HM Endeavour. Cook claims it as a British possession and names eastern Australia "New South Wales".
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The First Fleet, made up of 11 ships arrived at Botany Bay. The ships held convicts and free settlers ready to start a new life in Australia.
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The name New Holland was first used by dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1644. This, along with Terra Australis, is what the continent was called until 1824, when permission was granted to officially change the name to Australia.
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The Discovery of gold in Victoria revolutionised Australia as an influx of migrants arrived and the wealth of the nation increased dramatically.
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The Eureka Stockade, or Eureka Rebellion happened in 1854 when Victorian miners, unhappy with the way the government had been administering the goldfields, swore allegiance to the southern cross flag and built a stockade at the Eureka diggings.
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Until 1851 Victoria was a part of New South Wales. From then on, until 1901 when Australia became a nation, it was the colony of Victoria.
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In 1856 Van Diemen's land was officially renamed to Australia. This removes the convict association while at the same time honouring the first European to find the island, Abel Tasman.
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In 1880 Tasmania got its first telephone, with the line spanning from city centre to the Mount Nelson signal station.
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The railway network between Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney is completed, allowing for easier travel between the cities.
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On the first of January 1901 the separate colonies are unified together to form Australia as a nation.
