Early European History of Australia CH By Jillaroos Aug 22, 1770 First European to discover eastern coast of New Holland (New South Wales) - Captain James Cook Jan 20, 1788 First Fleet arrives in Botany Bay Jan 14, 1804 First Settlement in Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) - Colonel Collins Dec 28, 1836 1836 Planned Colony of Adelaide Aug 9, 1851 Gold Rush starts in Ballarat 1851 Dec 2, 1854 Eureka Stockade Peter Lalor 1854