Timeline Australian History By annabella14932 Mar 1, 1770 Lieutenant James Cook claims the East coast for Australia Mar 6, 1788 First Settlement which is today Sydney Period: Mar 6, 1850 to Mar 6, 1860 the Great Australian Gold Rush The colonies experienced huge growth and immigration. Mar 6, 1851 Black Thursday Bushfires Mar 6, 1854 The Eureka Rebellion was an armed conflict which is attributed to as the birth of democracy in Australia. Period: Mar 6, 1891 to Mar 6, 1896 Queensland is in civil war between the armed unions against government forces. Large skirmishes, attacks on wool sheds, and naval battles take place across the colony. Period: Jan 1, 1899 to Jan 1, 1903 Australia fights in the Boer War. Jan 1, 1901 Federation of Australia is the beginning of the Australian nation. Period: Mar 7, 1914 to Mar 7, 1918 Australia fights in WW1 - Major battles include Gallipoli, Beersheba