Australian History Timeline by Noah By noahayling Jan 1, 1788 Captain Cook arrived in Australia Period: Jan 1, 1850 to Dec 31, 1860 The Gold Rush Jan 1, 1854 Diggers Strike and Rebellion Jan 1, 1901 Australia became a country on its own Period: Jan 1, 1914 to Jan 1, 1918 World War 1 Period: Jul 17, 1939 to Jul 17, 1945 World War 2 Jul 17, 1967 Australia indigenous people able to vote Jul 17, 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to Indigenous Australians