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First European Landing
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. -
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"[5] i.e., according to the European legal precepts of the era, it was "owned" by no-one. -
The First Fleet of 11 ships, led by Governor Arthur Phillip, departed from Great Britain for Australia to begin European colonisation.
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The First Fleet lands in Botany Bay
The first boat of the First Fleet, HMS Supply landed at Botany Bay, after 252 days of sailing. -
Australia Day 1788
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. In a ceremony at sunset Phillip and the officers drank to the health of the king and the royal family, and success to the new colony. In the meantime, La Perouse entered Botany Bay as the remaining British ships prepared to leave. -
Settlement of Van Diemen's Land
In 1803, the island was colonised by the British as a penal colony with the name Van Diemen's Land, and became part of the British colony of New South Wales. -
Rum Rebellion
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.[1] The Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, on 26 January 1808, 20 years to the day after Arthur Phillip founded European settlement in Australia. -
Rum Rebellion Ends
The Rum Rebellion comes to an end. -
City of Swan River Created (Perth)
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. -
Victoria is seperated from New South Wales
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Victorian Gold Rush Begins
The Victorian gold rush started when gold was found at Summerhill Creek and Ballarat. -
Eureka Stockade
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, and resulted with the deaths of atleast 27 people. -
Transportation of convicts ends
In 1868 the transportation of convicts ceased, ending in Western Australia. -
Federation
Australia becomes a federation. Edmund Barton becomes the 1st Prime Minister of Australia; the 7th Earl of Hopetoun becomes Governor-General -
World War I Begins
World War I (WWI) was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. It was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until the start of World War II in 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter. It involved all the world's great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. -
World War I ends
First World War ends – 60,000 Australians dead. -
World War II Begins
World War II (WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. -
World War II ends
World War II ends. -
Cyclone Tracey
Darwin is devastated by Cyclone Tracey. -
Kevin Rudd's nation apology to the Stolen Generations
Kevin Rudd gave a broad apology to all Aborigines and the Stolen Generations for their "profound grief, suffering and loss" in a carefully worded statement that was greeted by a standing ovation.
Thousands of Aboriginal Australians gathered in Canberra to watch the historic apology, which was televised around the nation and shown at special outdoor settings in remote indigenous communities.
