First fleet to First Prime Minister of Australia By chris.pham Jan 24, 1788 The first fleet arrive at Botany Bay Feb 7, 1788 The colony of New South Wales is established 1825 Van Diemen's land is established May 2, 1829 Swan River Colony is declared by Charles Fremantle Dec 28, 1836 South Australia is settled Feb 12, 1846 North Australia is authorized Dec 28, 1847 North Australia is revoked and merges back into NSW Jul 1, 1851 Victoria is separated from NSW Jan 1, 1856 Van Diemen's land is renamed to Tasmania 1857 Select Committees in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia held to discuss the possibility of a federal union Jun 6, 1859 Queensland is separated from NSW 1860 South Australia's border extends 1862 Queensland's borders extend Jul 6, 1863 A region of NSW north of South Australia is transferred to South Australia 1870 British troops withdrawn 1900 Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act is passed by British Parliament Jan 1, 1901 The commonwealth of Australia is proclaimed and Australia becomes a federation Jan 22, 1901 Queen Victoria dies Mar 21, 1901 Edmund Barton is elected as Australia's first prime minister