Australian History Timeline

Australia Named

Jan 1, 1606

Interestingly, Australia was named in 1606 by a Spanish man Pedro who claimed the country for Spain.

Tasmania first sighted

Nov 24, 1642

<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmania#European_arrival' >The first reported sighting of Tasmania by a European was on 24 November 1642 by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman.

Captain Cook discovers New South Wales

Jan 1, 1770

Between 1788 and 1850 the English sent over 162,000 convicts to Australia in 806 ships. The first eleven of these ships are today known as the First Fleet and contained the convicts and marines that are now acknowledged as the Founders of Australia

First Fleet

Jan 18, 1788

<a href='http://www.historyaustralia.org.au/ifhaa/ships/1stfleet.htm' >Between 1788 and 1850 the English sent over 162,000 convicts to Australia in 806 ships. The first eleven of these ships are today known as the First Fleet and contained the convicts and marines that are now acknowledged as the Founders of Australia.

Second Fleet

Jun 30, 1790

A second fleet of six ships left England - Guardian, Justinian, Lady Juliana, Surprize, Neptune, Scarborough. The Guardian struck ice, and was unable to complete the voyage. She was stocked with provisions. Only 48 people died in the first group of ships, but this time 278 died during the voyage. This time transporting the convicts was in the hands of private contractors.

Rum Rebellion

Jan 26, 1808

Victorian Gold Rush

Apr 15, 1823

Gold was first discovered in Australia on 15 February 1823, by assistant surveyor James McBrien, at Fish River, between Rydal and Bathurst (in New South Wales). The find was considered unimportant at the time, and was not pursued for policy reasons. The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s.[1] In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.

Whole Australia claimed British Territory

Jan 1, 1829

Settlement at Port Phillip/ Melbourne

Jun 8, 1835

settlers from Tasmania led by John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner (who had been at the Sorrento settlement as a child) established Melbourne on the lower reaches of the Yarra. John Batman encountered William Buckley who then became an important translator in negotiations with the local indigenous tribesmen.

Melbourne was named

Mar 9, 1837

When Governor Bourke visited the new settlement in 1837, it was clear that there had been little progress with the initial land survey of the area.Bourke selected Robert Hoddle, the senior surveyor from Sydney, to take up the chain and theodolite for the government. On 4 March, Hoddle and Bourke rode over the area on horseback and traced the general outline of the township. On 7 March, Bourke directed that the town be laid out, and on the 9 March the governor named the settlement 'Melbourne' after the British prime minister of the day. By the end of April, Hoddle's plan of Melbourne was lodged at the government survey office in Sydney.

Melbourne declared a city

Jun 25, 1847

Melbourne declared a city by Queen Victoria.

First Melbourne Cup

Nov 7, 1861

Seventeen horses contested the first Melbourne Cup on Thursday 7 November 1861, racing for the modest prize of 710 gold sovereigns (£710) cash and a hand-beaten gold watch, winner takes all.[15][16] The prize was not, as some have suggested, the largest purse up to that time.

World War I

Aug 4, 1914

The First World War began when Britain and Germany went to war in August 1914, and Prime Minister Andrew Fisher's government pledged full support for Britain. The outbreak of war was greeted in Australia, as in many other places, with great enthusiasm.

World War 2

Sep 3, 1939

Australia entered World War II shortly after the invasion of Poland, declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939. By the end of the war, almost a million Australians had served in the armed forces, whose military units fought primarily in the European theatre, North African campaign, and the South West Pacific theatre.

Australia hosts the Olympic games

Nov 22, 1956

1956 was the first time the Olympics were held in Australia and they were held in Melbourne."The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations.

Port Arthur Massacre

Apr 28, 1996

The Port Arthur massacre of 28 April 1996 was a killing spree in which 35 people were killed and 21 wounded, mainly at the historic