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The Dutch East India Company (VOC) ship Duyfken, under Captain Willem Janszoon, explored the western coast of Cape York Peninsula. This was the first recorded landfall by a European on Australian soil
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English Lieutenant James Cook's expedition in HM Bark Endeavour charted the eastern coast, and claimed it for the British Crown. Australia was dubbed "terra nullius" i.e., according to the European legal precepts of the era, it was "owned" by no-one
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Captain Arthur Phillip of the First Fleet, having decided to sail ahead of the rest of the first fleet to prepare for the new settlement, sighted the coast of Van Diemen's Land
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Early in the morning, Lt. Arthur Phillip took a party ashore Sydney Cove, raised the British colours and British sovereignty over [[New South Wales] was formally proclaimed. This day is now celebrated as Australia Day
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Captain Arthur Phillip of the First Fleet, having decided to sail ahead of the rest of the first fleet to prepare for the new settlement, sighted the coast of Van Diemen's Land
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The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australian history. During the 19th century it was widely referred to as the Great Rebellion
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Permission was granted to change the name of the continent from "New Holland" to "Australia"
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The whole of Australia was claimed as British territory. The settlement of Perth was founded. Swan River Colony was declared by Charles Fremantle for Britain
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Western Australia became a penal colony
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The Victorian gold rush started when gold was found at Summerhill Creek and Ballarat
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Victoria separated from New South Wales
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The Eureka Rebellion of year 1854 was a historically significant organised rebellion of gold miners of Ballarat against the colonial authority of the United Kingdom. The Battle of Eureka Stockade (by which the rebellion is popularly known) was fought between miners and the Colonial forces of Australia on 3 December 1854 at Eureka Lead and named for the stockade structure erected by miners during the conflict
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The transportation of convicts to Western Australia ceased
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Uluru was first sighted by Europeans, and named Ayers Rock
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Opening of the Sydney Melbourne Railway
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The decision was made to site the national capital in New South Wales, but not within 100 miles of Sydney
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Australia becomes a federation. Edmund Barton becomes the 1st Prime Minister of Australia; the 7th Earl of Hopetoun becomes Governor-General
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The Royal Australian Navy is founded
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Australian soldiers are sent to the First World War. This was first time Australians had fought under the Australian flag, as opposed to that of Britain's
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First World War ends – 60,000 Australians dead
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September, Australia enters the Second World War following the German Invasion of Poland. The 2nd Australian Imperial Force is raised
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7 May, Nazi Germany Surrenders
14 August, Japan Surrenders
