Identity Australia Timeline By haydos0110 Jan 1, 1787 Aborigines arrive in Australia, date is unknown Jul 26, 1788 The First Fleet arrives on the shores of Australia Jan 1, 1802 Mathew Flinders completes circumnavigation of Australia Jan 1, 1813 Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth cross the Blue Mountains Jan 1, 1851 Victorian Gold Rush starts in Ballarat Jan 1, 1854 Eureka Stockade Jan 1, 1868 Transportation of convicts to Australia ceases Jan 1, 1901 Australia becomes a Federation Jan 1, 1914 Australian soldiers are sent to the First World War Jan 1, 1931 The Great Depression hits Australia Mar 19, 1932 Sydney Harbour Bridge is opened Sep 3, 1939 Australian soldiers sent to Second World War Jul 24, 1948 Indigenous Australians are given full rights as citizens Jul 24, 1963 Decimal currency is introduced in Australia Dec 24, 1974 Darwin is devastated by Cyclone Tracy Jan 1, 1988 Australia celebrates bicentenary