-
The First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands) in 1606, but they didn’t settle there.The Dutch made one landing, they were attacked by Aborigines, and then abandoned further exploration
-
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia. Cook named the area New South Wales. Ignored the Aborigines living there & claimed the land for England. Sailors also mapped the coast eastern Australia.
-
British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony.
-
1788 to 1832: New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families. Only 20% of the first convicts were women. British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868. By this time, many free immigrants were settling there. They built businesses, trading posts, farms, etc.
-
American Revolution forced the British to stop sending prisoners to Georgia (used as a penal colony at the time)
Great Britain had to start looking for another place to send its prisoners. Australia seemed like a good choice:, no chance of escape, no colonies around it, and very few indigenous people lived there. -
At New South Wales the prison stopped.
-
From 1833, until the 1850s, it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia.
-
Great Britain saw that Australia was a good location to base its navy in the South Pacific Ocean. Its location would make it possible for British ships to make repairs & get supplies. Had many opportunities for trade with Asia and the Americas.
-
The Commonwealth of Australia was established.
-
Originally, Australia promoted a policy called “White Australia”. They would not allow non-Caucasians to immigrate to Australia. That has since changed…
Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent. This was dismantled after the Second World War. -
Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed.
-
Aborigines went through stages of being conquered through an 'invasion' and taking of their lands. European settlers often separated Aborigines from society. Some were removed from their families and placed into institutions. Others were killed because they were seen as a “nuisance” They were put onto Reserves. They were forbidden from teaching their children their language and customs.
-
Federal government began to pass legislation to help the Aborigines. It was widely seen as affirmation of the Australian people’s wish to see its government take direct action to improve the living conditions of Aborigines.
-
Australia Act -- all legal ties with the British Empire were severed
today, Australia is a parliamentary democracy (constitutional monarchy) with Elizabeth II as queen. -
55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic..
