-
Dutch were First Europeans to sail to Australia, and were attacked by the Aborigines.
-
Captain James Cook sailed around
Australia, claimed land, and sailors also mapped the coast
of eastern Australia and Tasmania. -
British ships left England with convicts to establish a prison colony in Australia.
-
New South Wales was officially a
penal colony. -
Tasmania was the destination for the
hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals. -
government officials created boundaries
for the colonies. -
British transported prisoners to Australia until
many free immigrants were settling
there. -
Commonwealth of Australia was established. Melbourne served as the national capital.
-
Immigration Restriction Act restricted migration
to people primarily of European descent. -
Canberra was completed and served as the capital.
