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The Dutch were the first Europeans to discover Australia in 1606, but when they arrived on the shore, they were attacked by the Aborigines. After the attack the Dutch decided to cancel further exploration. -
James Cook, from the UK, sailed to Australia in 1770. He named the land New South Wales and claimed the land for England, ignoring the Aborigines. His sailors also mapped Eastern Australia. -
British ships called the "First Fleet" left England with prisoners onboard to drop them off in Australia. They had plans to make Australia their new penal colony after Georgia had been freed in the American Revolution. -
From 1788-1832, New South Wales was used as an official British penal colony, like Georgia was until the American Revolution. The colony's population was made up of mostly convicts, with a few guards and their families. The British sent prisoners to Australia until 1868, by then many immigrants were settling down in Australia. -
As non-prisoner colonization continued, major coastal settlements became independent colonies. In 1861, Government officials created colony boundaries that are still in place today. -
The Immigration Restriction Act was one of the first laws passed by the Commonwealth. The aim was to help keep Australia British, or "white". The law was dismantled after the Second World War. -
On the first day of 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was officially established, making Australia its own government, separate from the British. -
For a long time in Australia the Europeans mistreated the Aborigines. They were separated from their families and forced to follow a different religion. In 1967, the federal government finally started trying to help the Aborigines. -
In 1986, the Australian Act was passed. This act severed all ties with the British Empire. Now Australia doesn't have to worry about staying British and can allow any immigrants they want into Australia. Their elections will just involve Australia too. -
Now Australia is a parliamentary democracy or a constitutional monarchy. The queen is Elizabeth ll. In 1999, 55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming independent from the queen.