Australian History

  • The Dutch

    The Dutch

    The Dutch made one landing, were attacked by Aborigines, and then abandoned further exploration.
  • Captain James Cook

    Captain James Cook

    Cook named the area New South Wales and ignored the Aborigines living there & claimed the land for England.
  • First Fleet

    First Fleet

    British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony.
  • British Prisoners

    British Prisoners

    British prisoners settled in Australia.
  • Period: to

    New South Wales

    New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families.
  • Period: to

    Port Arthur, Tasmania

    From 1833, until the 1850s, it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia.
  • Commonwealth of Australia

    Commonwealth of Australia

    The Commonwealth of Australia was established.
  • Federal Government

    Federal Government

    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.
  • Australia Act

    Australia Act

    All legal ties with the British Empire were severed.
  • Independent republic

    Independent republic

    55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic.

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