-
First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands) in 1606, but they didn’t settle there•The Dutch made one landing, were attacked by Aborigines, and then abandoned further exploration -
Cook named the area New South Wales ignored the Aborigines living there & claimed the land for England -
British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony. -
New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families. British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868.
-
British brought their prisoners to Australia. -
They were forbidden from teaching their children their language and customs. -
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.
-
The Commonwealth of Australia was established. -
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. -
ll legal ties with the British Empire were severed. -
55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic.