Australia By Henkeberur 1606 Discovery of Australia William Janszoon discovered Australia in 1606 and called it "New Holland" 1788 First Fleet of British Ships 11 ships sent from Portsmouth to Australia to start a colony. This was the first European settlement in Australia. Period: 1804 to 1830 The Black War 1851 The Gold Rush 1854 The Eureka Stockade 1901 The Commonwealth of Nations 1905 The Stolen Generation 1915 WWI - Invasion of Turkey Period: 1942 to 1943 Air Raids on Australia 1973 The Opera House 1986 Complete Independence From Britain 2008 Official Apology to the Stolen Generation