Important Australian Dates By zstevenson Jan 26, 1770 Captian Cook sights the eastern coast of Australia Jan 26, 1788 The British Colony landed on Australian shores and raised the Union Jack Jan 24, 1854 Eureka Rebellion Jan 1, 1901 Australia became a nation Apr 25, 1915 Anzacs at Gallipoli Feb 24, 1941 Australia was attacked by the Japanese Jan 24, 2000 Australia hosted the Olympics