A TIMELINE OF AUSTRALIA
By Tim Lambert
c. 40,000 BC Aborigines arrive in Australia
1642 Abel Tasman discovers Tasmania
1688 William Dampier sails to Western Australia
1770 Captain Cook lands in Botany Bay and claims New South Wales for Britain
1787 A fleet of 11 ships sets sail from Portsmouth
1788 The first colonists arrive in Australia
1790 A second fleet arrives
1791 A third fleet arrives
1793 The first free settlers arrive
1797 Merino sheep are brought to Australia
1803 The first Europeans land in Tasmania
1804
A settlement is founded at Newcastle
Convicts rebel at Castle Hill
Hobart is founded
1808 The Rum Rebellion takes place
1813 A pass is discovered through the Blue Mountains
1825 Brisbane is founded
1829
Berrima is founded
Swan River colony is founded
1833 Bathurst and Goulburn are founded
1835 Melbourne is founded
1836 A colony is begun at Port Adelaide
1840 Transportation to New South Wales ends
1850 Sydney University is founded
1851
Victoria is made a separate state from New South Wales
There is a gold rush in Victoria
1852 Transportation to Tasmania ends
1853 Melbourne University is founded
1854 The Eureka rebellion takes place
1860 Burke and Wills attempt to cross Australia
1861 The population of Australia reaches 1.2 million
1868 Transportation to Australia ends completely
1874 Adelaide University is founded
1880 Ned Kelly is hanged
1892 Gold is found in Western Australia
1901 The Commonwealth of Australia is formed
1902 Australian women ae given the vote
1914-1918 The Anzacs fight in World War I
1920 Qantas the Australian airline is founded
1927 Canberra becomes the capital of Australia
1928 The Commonwealth flying doctor service begins
1939-1945 The Anzacs fight in the Second World War
1956
Television begins in Australia
The Olympic Games are held in Melbourne
1962 Aborigines are allowed to vote
1975 The Governor-General dismisses the Australian government
197 Advance Australia Fair becomes the National Anthem
1992 The Mabo Judgement is made
1993 The Wik Judgement is made
2000 Over 250,000 people walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge as a symbol of reconciliation
The Olympic Games are held in Sydney
2006 The Commonwealth Games are held in Melbourne
To read a history of Canberra click here.
To read a history of Melbourne click here.
To read a history of Perth click here.
To read a history of Sydney click here.