Australia map flag

History of Australia

By kmc0003
  • Period: to

    Exploration

    Explorers visited Australia and charted the area.

  • First settlement

    British established first settlement in New South Wales, which includes New Zealand.
  • Period: to

    Convicts

    160,000 convicts were sent to Australia.

  • Name change

    The country's name changed from New Holland to Australia.

  • British territory

    The whole of Australia is claimed as British territory.

  • Gold rush

    The Victorian Gold Rush begins.

  • Men can vote

    All men over age 21 in Australia are given the right to vote.

  • Railroad

    The Sydney–Melbourne railway opens.

  • Depression

    A severe depression begins in Australia.

  • Federation

    Australia becomes a federation. A federation is a group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs.

  • Women can vote

    Women are given the right to vote.

  • World War I

    Australian soldiers are sent to World War I. This was first time Australians had fought under the Australian flag, as opposed to Britain's flag.

  • Qantas

    The airline Qantas is founded.

  • Vegemite

    Vegemite is first produced.

  • United Nations

    Australia becomes a founding member of the United Nations.

  • Voting age

    The voting age is dropped from 21 to 18.