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European Exploration: Dutch
The 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 Exploration : 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. eastern Australia & Tasmania -
The First fleet
British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony. British prisoners settled in Australia. -
New south whales
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. British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868. By this time, many free immigrants were settling there They built businesses, trading posts, farms, etc. -
Aborigines
1830s: remnants of the tribes in the settled areas were moved onto Reserves. They were forbidden from teaching their children their language and customs. -
Port Arthur, Tasmania
From 1833, until the 1850s, 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 the prison camps. -
Aborigines
During the 1900s, separation was an official government policy which lasted for many decades. Today, many Aboriginal people do not know their origins: which tribe they are descended from or the names of their parents and or grandparents. They are a lost generation. -
Commonwealth of Australia
Non Prisoner colonization continued…January 1, 1901: the Commonwealth of Australia was established. Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in 1927 oner colonization continued… -
White Australia
Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent
This was dismantled after the Second World War. -
Australia Today
Australia Act all legal ties with the British Empire were severed.
Today, Australia is a parliamentary democracy constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II as queen. 1999: 55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent
