-
The first Aborigines arrive from south-east Asia. By 20,000 BC they have spread throughout the mainland and Tasmania.
-
Dirk Hartog landed on Australian soil, looking for trade routs
-
Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman's, first journey to Australia. In 1644 Abel discovered that Australia was made up of 4 coasts North, West, South, East. The Australian state Tasmania was named after this famous exploer.
-
Captain James Cook charts the east coast in his ship HM Endeavour. Cook claims it as a British possession and names eastern Australia "New South Wales".
-
British Navy captain Arthur Phillip funds a penal settlement at Sydney. He had arrived with a fleet of 11 vessels, carrying nearly 800 convicts. The Aboriginal population at the time is thought to number several hundred thousand.
-
Nearly 200,000 free settlers chose to migrate to Australia to start a new life. The majority were English agricultural workers or domestic servants, as well as Irish and Scottish migrants. These settlers formed the basis of early Australian society.
-
Mathew Flinders completes the first voyage around australia in the "Investigator".
-
Colony of Western Australia established at Perth by Captain James Stirling.
-
-
canberra is founded and designated as the capital.
-
Outbreak of World War 1.