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First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands). They didn't stay there.
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Captain James Cook sailed around Australia. Cook named the area “New South Wales”
He ignored the Aborigines living there & claimed the land for England. -
British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony.
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British prisoners settled in Australia.
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New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families.
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remnants of the tribes in the settled areas were moved onto reserves.
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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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Government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today.
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Restricted migration to people primarily of European descent
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The Australia Act severed all legal ties with the British Empire.
