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The Dutsh sailed to Australia in 1606, but they did not settle there. The Dutch made one landing, were attacked by Aborigines, and then abandoned further exploration.
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Captin James Cook sailed around Australia in 1770. Cook named the area New South Wales. He ignored the aboriginies living there and claimed the land for England.
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British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony.
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New South Wales became a prison colony and the British prisoners settled Australia.
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New South Wales was officially a penal colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines guards, and the marines’ families. Only 20% of the first convicts were women
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Government oficials created 7 boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today.
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The commonwealth of Australia was established. Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927
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Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent. This was dismantled after the second World War.
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In 1967 the federal government began to pass legistlation to help the Aborigines. It was widely seen as affirmation of the Australian people's wish to see its government take direct action to improve the living conditions of Aborigines.
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All legal ties with the Britsh Empire were served.
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55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an idependent republic.
