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The Dutch were the first Europeans to land in Australia. They didn't settle there though, because the Aborigines attacked them. -
Captain James Cook named Australia "New South Wales". He ignored the people already living there and claimed the land for England. Eastern Australia was also mapped. -
The "First Fleet", a group of British ships, left England to establish a prison -
British prisoners on the ships in the first fleet settled in Australia. -
From 1788 to 1832, New South Wales became a prison colony with 20% of the convicts being women. Prisoners were transferred until 1868. Around this time, many free immigrants were also settling there. -
The remnants of the tribes in settled areas were moved to reserves. They weren't allowed to teach their children their language or culture. Now most Aboriginal people do not know their origins. -
Major coastal settlements in Australia became 7 independent colonies. Boundaries for the colonies were created by government officials (still in place to this day). -
The Commonwealth of Australia is a sovereign country and the largest in Oceania. -
The Immigration Restriction Act restricted migration to Australia to people primarily of European descent. -
The federal government started to pass legislation to help the Aborigines. It was seen as an affirmation of the Australian people's wish to improve the living conditions of Aborigines. -
All legal ties to the British empire were severed. In modern-day, Australia is a parliamentary democracy (constitutional monarchy) with Elizabeth the Second as its monarch. -
55% of voters in Australia rejected the idea of becoming independent.