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Jan 1, 1500
First inhabitants
It is believed that they arrived in Australia by sea from Southeast Asia between 40.000 and 70.000 years ago. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
History of Australia
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First landing of Europeans
William Janszoon, a Dutch navigator, landed in Australia. After this, the western and southern coasts were explored by other navigators and named the new land "New Holland" -
Lieutenant James Cook's arrival
He placed Australia's situation on the maps and targeted it as a potential colony. -
The First Fleet reaches Australia
The First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay (now Sydney) to establish a penal colony. -
Period: to
British establishes other colonies in Australia
In the next century, more European explorers came to the country. Indigenous Australians weakened and their numbers were greatly reduced because of the diseases and the conflicts with the colonists. The 6 British colonies started to establish Parliamentary democracies. -
Gold Rush in Australia
It attracted people from other parts of the world, contributing to the economy by bringing new professions and skills. Australia became the first multicultural society. People from the British Isles, Europe, United States and China came to the country between 1852 and 1860 seeking gold. -
Modern Australia is formed
The colonies voted by referendum to become a federation. -
Period: to
The World Wars
Australia fought along with Britain in the two World Wars. It became an ally of the United States when it got threatened by the Imperial Japan in the second one. -
Period: to
From 1945 until now
The trades with Asia increased. After the war, it received more than 6.5 million migrants from every continent. -
Australia's population huge growth
The population tripled in just only six decades to around 21 million in 2010, with people originating from 200 countries.
