Australia's History By harlee.sanders 1770 James Cook charts the east coast and claims it as Britains possession 1787 British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony 1788 New South Wales was officially a penal colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines , and the marines’ families 1830 remnants of the tribes in the settled areas were moved onto Reserves 1861 Government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today 1886 British transported prisoners to Australia until this time 1901 The Commonwealth of Australia was established. 1901 restricted migration to people primarily of European descent 1927 Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed 1967 Federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines
