-
1770: Captain James Cook sailed around Australia -
1787 – British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony -
1788—British prisoners settled in Australia -
1788 to 1832: New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families
-
From 1833, until the 1850 it was the destination of the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re offended after their arrival in Australia.
-
1861: government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today -
January 1, 1901: the Commonwealth of Australia was established. -
1967: federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines -
1986: Australia Act -- all legal ties with the British Empire were severed -
1999: 55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic.