1241px australia color map.svg

The History of Australia from colonization to independence

By Tinès
  • Captain Cook

    Captain Cook

    Captain Cook claims Australia for the British
  • First Colony

    First Colony

    Fisrt colony built in Sydney Cove
  • First Free Settlers

    First Free Settlers

    First free settlers arrive for new life in Australia
  • Tasmania

    Tasmania

    New colony set up for convicts on Tasmania. Free settlers soon follow.
  • Born in Australia

    Born in Australia

    By now, about half the people living in Australia were born there
  • Victoria

    Victoria

    A new province is set up - called Victoria
  • Gold

    Gold

    Gold discovered in Australia - even more settlers arrive. Population now nearly half a million.
  • Self-government for four of the five provinces

    Self-government for four of the five provinces

    Four of the five provinces of Australia granted "self-government. They managed most of their own affairs but are still part of the British Empire.
  • Birth of a nation

    Birth of a nation

    By now all six provinces or territories are "self-governing".
  • Queensland

    Queensland

    Queensland, the last colony to be created, comes into existence.

  • 80% of Australian were born there

    Now over 80% of people in Australia were born there. The six colonies meet to draw up a set of rules about how to run Australia as a united country, independent of Britain.
  • Commonwealth of Australia

    Commonwealth of Australia

    The Commonwealth of Australia comes into existernce. All the territories form one 'Federation' with its own Parliament. But the British monarch remains the head of state !