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In 1606 the Dutch sailed to Australia. They did not decide to settle there. The Aborigines attacked the explorers which discouraged them from further exploration. -
1770: Captain James Cook sailed around Australia. Cook named the area New South Wales. He ignored the Aborigines living in Australia and claimed the land for England. -
In 1787 the British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with the idea to establish a prison colony. -
American Revolution forced the British to stop sending prisoners to Georgia which was being used as a penal colony at the time 1788 to 1832: New South Wales was officially a prison colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines guards, and the marines’ families. -
In 1833 it was the destination for the worst of British and Irish criminals.Port Arthur had some of the strictest security measures of all British prisons. -
As more Colonists came to Australia government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today. -
In January 1, 1901 The Commonwealth of Australia was established. Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927 -
Australia once promoted a policy called ''White Australia''. Only Caucasians could immigrate to Australia. Luckily Today, Australia has a global, non-discriminatory policy and is home to people from all walks of life. The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent -
Some Aborigines were removed from their families and placed into institutions. Others were killed because they were seen as a “nuisance”. In 1967 federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines. They even started to speak up and protest their rights! -
In 1986 the Australia Act was signed all that meant legal ties with the British Empire were severed. Today, Australia is a parliamentary democracy with Elizabeth II as queen In 1999: 55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic.