Making a nation timeline By Nathon 1770 James cook lands in Botany Bay 1788 New South Wales has its first settlement 1813 First crossing of the blue mountains 1836 South Australia first settled 1851 Start of the gold rushes in Australia 1855 Introduction of eight hour days 1872 Free and compulsory education 1901 Australian colonies federate to become the Commonwealth of Australia 1907 Minimum wage for Australian men is introduced 1914 Start of WW1