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European Exploration: Dutch
The Dutch were the first Europeans to sail to Australia. When they sailed there they did not settle. They made one landing and were attacked by the natives and abandoned their exploration. -
European Exploration : British
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia. Captain Cook named the area New South Wales. The sailors ignored the Aborigines living there & claimed the land for England. Sailors also mapped the coast eastern Australia & Tasmania. -
Aborigines
Remnants of the tribes in the settled areas were moved onto Reserves. They were forbidden from teaching their children their language and customs. -
New South Wales
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 -
Port Arthur, Tasmania
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. -
Common Wealth of Australia
the Commonwealth of Australia was established. Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927. -
Immigration Restriction Act of 1901
restricted migration to people primarily of European descent. This was dismantled after the second World War. -
pass legislation to help the Aborigines
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. -
Australia Today
55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic.