-
Invasion and wars
29 April: Captain James Cook claims possession of the whole east coast of Australia for the British Crown. Many history classes and books start teaching Australian history from this point on. -
Captian Phillip
25 January: Captain Phillip raises the Union Jack at Sydney Cove to start a penal colony. Aboriginal resistance flares within a few days of arrival of the tall ships.
29 May: The first conflict between the First Fleet arrivals and Aboriginal people takes place near Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. Two convicts are killed. December: Arabanoo is the first Aboriginal person captured by Europeans. Captain Phillip estimates an Aboriginal population of 1,500 people living in the Sydney Region. The total Abo -
1789
April: A smallpox epidemic decimates the Eora Aboriginal people of Port Jackson, Botany Bay and Broken Bay. November: Governor Phillip captures two Aboriginal men - Bennelong and Colebee. Colebee escapes but Bennelong is kept at Government House for five months. -
1790
September: Pemulwuy spears Phillip’s gamekeeper, John McEntire, and Phillip orders the first punitive expedition. The Hawkesbury and Nepean Wars between Aboriginal people and white invaders start in NSW. Led by Pemulwuy and his son Tedbury, Aboriginal people raid stations or assault sheep and cattle because the growing number of colonists occupied more and more land. Many times they used firesticks to set the bush on fire, destroy buildings, and burn crops. The guerrillia-like wars continue unt -
1791
Orphan boy Bon-del is the first Aboriginal person to go to sea, sailing aboard the brig Supply, bound for Norfolk Island -
1792
Bennelong and a boy named Yemmerrawanie are taken to England by Phillip. They perform the first Aboriginal song to be heard in Europe. Bennelong meets George III. Yemmarrawanie dies in England. In 1795 Bennelong returns to Australia -
1793
Gnung-a Gnung-a Murremurgan (also known as Collins) crosses the Pacific to Nootka Sound (Vancouver), the Californian coast and Hawaii. -
1795
The Richmond Hill battle is considered to be the first recorded battle between Aboriginal people defending their country against the British. Aboriginal man Tom Rowley sails to Calcutta, Madras and New Ireland. He returns in 1796 to Australia -
1796
After being shot seriously twice, and surviving both times, Pemulwuy is considered unable to be killed by bullets.
