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First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands) in 1606, but they didn’t settle there
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In 1770, Captain James Cook sailed around Australia.
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In 1787, British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony.
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In 1788, British prisoners settled in Australia.
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From 1788 to 1832, New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families
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In the 1830s, remnants of the tribes in the settled areas were moved onto reserves.
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From 1833 until the 1850s, 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.
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In 1861, government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today.
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On January 1, 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was established.
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Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent
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Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927
