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European Exploration : Dutch
First Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch (Netherlands) in 1606, but they didn’t settle there
The Dutch made one landing, were attacked by Aborigines, and then abandoned further exploration -
European Exploratio : British
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia. Cook named the area New South Wales .Ignored the Aborigines living there & claimed the land for England. Sailors also mapped the coast of eastern Australia & Tasmania -
Prisoners as Colonists
British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony -
Prisoners as Colonists
British prisoners settled in Australia -
New South Wales
From 1788 to 1832, New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families. Only 20% of the first convicts were women. -
Port Arthur, Tasmania
From 1833, until the 1850s, it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia. In addition, Port Arthur had some of the strictest security measures of the British penal system. Some tales suggest that prisoners committed murder (an offence punishable by death) just to escape the desolation of life at the camp. The Island of the Dead was the destination for all who died inside. -
Prisoners
British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868. By this time, many free immigrants were settling there. They built businesses, trading posts, farms, etc. -
The Perfect Colony
Great Britain saw that Australia was a good location to base its navy in the South Pacific Ocean. Its location would make it possible for British ships to make repairs & get supplies. It had many opportunities for trade with Asia and the Americas. -
Aborigines
Aborigines went through stages of being conquered through an 'invasion' and taking of their lands. European settlers often separated Aborigines from society. Some were removed from their families and placed into institutions and others were killed because they were seen as a “nuisance”. During the 1900s, separation was an official government policy which lasted for many decades. Many Aboriginal people don't know their origins;which tribe they are descended from or the names of their parents and -
Australia Today
In 1986, the Australia Act -- all legal ties with the British Empire were severed. Today, Australia is a parliamentary democracy (constitutional monarchy) with Elizabeth II as queen. In 1999, 55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic.
