Colonisation Timeline

  • First documented landing

    Dutchman Willem Janszoon makes the first documented European landing on the Australian coast.
  • James Cook maps and claims Australia

    James Cook maps the east coast of Australia coast.
  • Period: to

    Aboriginal Resistance.

    Pemulwuy leads aboriginal resistance in the Sydney area.
  • Philip's instructions

    Before departing England, Phillip’s instructions of 17 April 1787 included the following: Summary: Before leaving Britain, Philip instructs the people to endevour to every possible means to open intercouse with the natives. Amongst its human cargo, the First Fleet brought with it many illnesses. Diseases indigenous to Aboriginal people appear to have been few. Dental disease was relatively rare; smallpox, influenza, measles, whooping cough, tuberculosis, leprosy and syphilis were unknown.
  • British colony of NSW established

  • Desimation of Eora people from disease

    Disease similar to smallpox wiped the population out. As well as an epidemic of Venereal disease introduced by the British.
  • An outbreak of measles

    an outbreak of measles spread amongst the Eora, particularly affecting the Kamergal (Cammeraigal) who lived on Sydney Harbour’s North Shore.
  • Van Diemans Land settled

    Van Diemans Land (now known as Tasmania) was settled. In 1804 settlers were authorised to ‘shoot aborigines’ in response to their resistance.
  • Killing at Risdon cove

    Aborginal tasmanians are killed at Risdon cove.
  • Governor Macquarie native institution

    Governor Macquarie established a native institution at Parramatta to’ civilise, educate
    and foster habits of industry and decency in the natives’. This institution was closed in 1820 after Koori people withdrew their children.
  • Macquarie sends military to kill aboriginals

    Governor Macquarie sends military to destroy the Darug people.
  • Martial law proclaimed to quell resistance

    Martial law is proclaimed in Bathurst to quell the Wiradjuri resistance to the white settlers.
  • Black war begins

    In Tasmania.
  • Settlers lined up and surrounded aboriginals

    Five thousand men lined up across the breadth of Van Diemans Land and walked the length of the island to force the Aborigines into the Tasman Peninsula. The Aborigines were forced to Flinders Island, where many died. The remainder were moved to Cape Barren Island.
  • Massacre of a small tribe

    The Pinjarra massacre in Western Australia is said to have wiped out an entire tribe. The official death count was only fourteen.
  • Myall Creek massacre

    The Myall Creek Massacre in NSW the first of the massacres where (white) offenders were punished under law. 28 Aboriginal people were shot and burnt, mainly women and children.
  • Treaty between John Batman and the aborginal people

    A treaty was made between John Batman and the Aboriginal people in 1835. There was an exchange of goods and blankets for 250,000 Ha of land. This treaty was never recognised by the authorities. (Some say that this was because the Governor would not recognise a treaty made in the absence of a declared war, others say it was because you cannot make a treaty with natives who are lower on the evolutionary ladder than you).
  • Businessman establish illegal camp

    At the Northern end of Port Philip bay.
  • British finds treatment of aboriginals poor

    the British select committee finds that the treatment of Australian Aboriginals is very poor. A ’Protector of Aborigines’ was recommended to be appointed.
  • Natives killed to open land for settlement

    NSW sent troopers to Queensland to ‘open the land for settlement and kill natives’.
  • Gold discovered in Victoria

  • Tax increased for the Chinese

    Victorian government introduces heavier taxation for Chinese migrants.
  • Labourers bought to Queensland

    Labourers from the Pacific Islands were brought to Queensland.
  • First international leaves for England

    The first international sporting team from Australia goes to England to play Cricket. The team was Aboriginal, it is said that the Australian side won the tour.
    In the same year 150 Aboriginal people were killed in the Kimberly Region for resisting arrest.
  • Tasmania’s Truganini dies.

  • Chinese immigration restricted

    By Victoria and NSW.
  • Kalkadoon people last stand

    In Queensland.
  • Immigration restricition act

    Passed by the Commonwealth parliament.