Making a nation His By lbroderick1 1770 James' Cook first landing. 1788 NSW first settlement: Sydney Cove. 1803 Van Diemen's Land First settlement: Tasmania 1804 Queensland: Moreton Bay convict settlement. 1813 First crossing of the Blue Mountains 1829 Western Australia: Swan River colony. 1835 Victoria settlement of Port Phillip 1836 South Australia: settlement of Adelaide. 1838 Myall Creek Massacre. 1851 Start of the Australian Gold Rushes