Australia

By Hey..

  • 1606

    First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch, but they didn’t settle there

  • 1770

    Captain James Cook sailed around Australia

  • 1787

    British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony

  • 1788

    British prisoners settled in Australia

  • 1788-1832

    New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families

  • 1833-1850

    it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia.

  • 1861

    government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today

  • 1868

    British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868

  • 1901-1927

    the Commonwealth of Australia was established.
    Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927

  • 1967

    The federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines