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1770
Captain James Cook charts the east coast in his ship HM Endeavour. Cook claims it as a British possession and names eastern Australia "New South Wales". -
1788
British Navy captain Arthur Phillip founds a penal settlement at Sydney. He had arrived with a fleet of 11 vessels, carrying nearly 800 convicts. The Aboriginal population at the time is thought to number several hundred thousand. -
1829
Colony of Western Australia established at Perth by Captain James Stirling. -
1836
South Australia established, with Adelaide as its capital. -
1850s
Gold is found at several locations leading to gold rushes throughout the decade. The population increases three-fold in 10 years to pass the million mark. An influx of Chinese leads to restrictions on their entry. Aborigines are treated very badly and their numbers collapse. -
1856
Australia becomes the first country to introduce the secret ballot - or 'Australian ballot' - for elections. -
1877
Australia and England play the first-ever cricket Test match in Melbourne. -
1901
The country is unified. The Commonwealth of Australia comes into being on 1st January. -
1911
Canberra is founded and designated as the capital. -
1914
Outbreak of World War I. Australia commits hundreds of thousands of troops to the British war effort.