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The Dutch were the first Europeans to sail to Australia. They made one landing, but were attacked by the Aborigines. After the attack, they decided to never go back.
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Captain James Cook sails aound Australia and name it New South Wales. He ignored the Aborigines and claimed the land for England.
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In 1781, British ships called the "First Fleet" left England with prisoners to establish a prison colony.
In 1788, the British prisoners settled in Australia. -
Government officials created boundaries for the colonies in Australia that are still in place today.
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England stopped sending prisoner to Australia. Many people that weren't prisoners started to move to Australia to live there. People started to look at Australia as a beautiful and wonderful place to stay at
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The Commonwealth of Australia is established. Melbourne served as national capital.
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Australia's national capital changes from Melbourne to Canberra.
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The federal government began to recognize the Aborigines. They started to pass legislation to help the Aborigines.
Aboriginal farmers went on strike for the demand of equal wages to a declaration of their rights of owning land. This became one of Australia's first successful land claims by the Aborigines. -
55% of voters reject the idea of Australia becoming an independent republic.
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Australia was no longer in the control of the British Empire!
