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The first Europeans (Dutch) sail to Australia, but don't settle there because of being attacked by Aboringines.
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Captain James Cook sails around Australia,claims land for England, and names it New South Wales.
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Great Britain had to stop sending prisoners to Georgia because of the American Revolution, so they needed a penal colony, and Australia seemed perfect.
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Free imagrants started and kept coming to live in Australia, so the 7 major coastal settlements became 7 independent colonies. Also the government created boundaries for the colonies that sre still in place today.
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To many nonprisoners come to New South Wales, so Great Britain decides to stop sending prisoners there.
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All of the colonies of Australia join together.
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Canberra becomes Australia's capitol instead of Melbourne.
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The Federal Government begins to pass laws to help Aborigines.
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Australia Act: all legal ties with Great Britain are cut off, making Australia independent.
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55% of voters didn't want Australia to become an independent republic, so it stayed a parlimentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth ll as queen.
