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Captain Cook claims Australia for Britain
Captain Cook claims the east coast of Australia, under instruction from King George III of England. It was then that Eastern Australia was called "New South Wales". -
The British Government chose Botany Bay as a penal colony.
A penal colony is a settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general population by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colonial territory. -
The First Fleet leave to go to Australia.
The 11 ships, filled with convicts, settlers and captains (superior),etc, departed from Portsmouth, England to Australia. -
The First Fleet land in Botany Bay.
The first fleet brought in around 80 convicts from England. There were 11 ships in the first fleet, which was the first wave of settlers coming into Australia. -
Pemulwuy leads the "Eora Tribe" against British Settlement
Pemulwuy was an Aboriginal that lived in the Sydney area in the Eora Tribe. He saw the British as invaders of Aboriginal land straight away, and was responsible for organizing small groups of Aboriginal warriors to attack British farms, small towns and troops. -
Pemulwuy spears Arthur Philip's Game Keeper
September, Pemulwuy spears Phillip's gamekeeper, John McEntire, and Phillip orders the first punitive expedition. Pemulwuy and his son Tedbury led Aboriginal resistance in the Sydney area in a guerrilla campaign lasting several years. -
Aborigines Dispossess Their Land
70 colonists (convicts, settlers) started farming on the Hawkesbury. Other areas such as Prospect Hill, Kissing Point, Northern Boundary and the Ponds were also taken over by colonists. Aboriginal people dispossessed of their land. -
Smallpox spreads to the "Eora" and "Guringai" Tribes
The "Eora" and "Guringai" Tribes both caught Smallpox, a very contagious disease, either from natural cause, or from the First Fleet (deliberately or accidental). -
Governor Macquarie's Native Institution is established
Lachlan Macquarie was appointed Governor of New South Wales, designated to take over from William Bligh. He was raised in Scotland and at the age of 15, joined the army. He quickly went up through the ranks and, when he became the Governor of Australia, he was one of the many people who supported the name Australia. -
Death of Truganini
Truganini was the last (official) surviving Tasmanian aborigine. She lost her mother, sister and soon to be husband at a young age, all of them victims of colonial violence. She was intelligent and resourceful and tried to protect other aboriginal survivors. -
Commonwealth of Australia is Declared
When the commonwealth of Australia was first declared, aborigines were not counted in the census, being able to vote, or was regarded as citizens of Australia. -
Aboriginals are allowed to Vote
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Aboriginals are included in the Census
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Kevin Rudd apologies to Aboriginals
On 13 February 2008, then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally acknowledged the suffering caused by decades of mistreatment of Indigenous Australians. He apologized in front of everyone,on behalf of Australia, saying sorry to the Stolen Generation, and anyway we have treated Aborigines badly.
