Early Explorers. When he returned to England he took samples of Australian plants and animals. History. From 1959 Indigenous Australians were allowed welfare benefits and after 1962 they were allowed to vote. Two Britons—George Bass, a naval surgeon, and Matthew Flinders, a naval officer—were the most famous postsettlement explorers. Prior to documented history, travelers from Asia may have reached Australia. In 1993 the government passed the Native Title Bill to clarify rights to ownership of land. A very short history of Australia. During the Second World War Australia once again joined Britain in fighting Germany. However, he was eventually shot. Its social policies are driven by an aging population and declining birth rate. The Aboriginal people lived off the land, they hunted, fished and picked berries. By 1983 it had reached 10%. Phillip at once established an outstation at Norfolk Island. Alternative Title: Commonwealth of Australia. They demanded not just an end to the licenses but also political reform. The non-Indigenous population at the time of Federation was 3.8 million. When made visible, they have been subjects of exhibitions and objects of ridicule. The result was a huge influx of new settlers into Australia. However in 1900 bubonic plague struck a number of Australian cities. On the other hand gold was found in Western Australia in 1882. From then on land in Australia was sold. The population of Western Australia boomed as a result of the gold rush. Self-sufficient and harmonious, they had no need to travel far from their lands, since the resources about them were so abundant, and trade with other tribal groups was well established. Brief Overview of the History of Australia. Captain Arthur Phillip commanded them. In the 19th century, there was a whaling industry in the Bass Strait. Some have seen a purely strategic purpose in settlement, but others have postulated an intent to use the colony as a springboard for economic exploitation of the area. Second was Sydney with about 360,000. The History of Aboriginals in Western Australia bares witness to these events. Share 1 of 9. The British government determined on settling New South Wales in 1786, and colonization began early in 1788. In 1928 a Queenslander named Bert Hinkler (1892-1933) made the first solo flight from Britain to Australia. Australia is a land of contrasts, as you’ll soon see, among myriad other things. It visits the locations where convicts lived and worked, talks to historians and descendants of convicts and experiences the legacy of the dramatic, brutal birth of a nation. Cook’s voyages led to settlement but did not complete the exploration of the Australian coasts. That would enable the British and French to open a sea route to their ally Russia. Squatters, also known as settlers, ventured farther into the Australian interior, disrupting the Aborigines even more. In 1809 the British government decided to replace Bligh and in 1810 he was succeeded by Colonel Macquarie. Communications also improved with the invention of the telephone. They sent 12 ships in the first fleet to settle on the East Coast of Australia in 1788. By 1851 it was about 430,000. Australia, formally the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country and sovereign state in the southern hemisphere, located in Oceania.Its capital city is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney.. Australia is the sixth biggest country in the world by land area, and is part of the Oceanic and Australasian regions. Getting rid of undesirable members of society may not have been the sole motive for founding a colony in Australia. Nobody knows exactly when the first people came to the continent. 1. A man named William Brahe was left in charge of the supplies at Cooper's Creek. Charles Gray died on 17 April. Guide; Forums; Articles; An overview of Canadian history unravels how it has become the young, bilingual and multicultural nation that we see today. This article discusses the history of Australia from the arrival of European explorers in the 16th century to the present. First and second waves of postwar immigration, The ascendance of Australian popular culture. The Effects of British Colonization on the Aboriginal People of Australia. During the Age of Exploration, the land was discovered and mapped by many Europeans including the Spanish, Dutch and English. Viceroys of Spain’s American empire regularly sought new lands. It borders the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west. Australia, once known as New South Wales, was originally planned as a penal colony. Australia's History. The government of Gough Whitlam is plagued by resignations and the blocking of its budget by the upper house of the parliament. As a result of the rebellion quickly collapsed and the ringleaders were hanged. A turning point in Australian history came in 1992 with the Mabo Judgement. However in the 1890s Australia suffered a recession, which was compounded by drought in the late 1890s. They also hoped Australia would be a source of timber and flax. The Australian Society for Sports History (ASSH) was established in 1983 to encourage discussion on sport history in Australia through research, publishing, and events such as conferences and workshops. The History of Australia to 1901 Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. He also took two indigenous people. Under King, the first colonists settled in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in 1803. William Bligh, the famous captain of the Bounty, was made governor in 1806. Sydney University was founded in 1850. Sheep ranches were particularly popular. Then on 29 November, 1854 miners held a meeting under a new flag, the 'Eureka Flag'. Sydney became the first Australian city to have a population of 1 million in 1922. This view is supported by the fact that convicts went to the settlement from the outset and that official statements put this first among the colony’s intended purposes. The number of sheep in Australia quickly boomed. It was rare for settlers to be prosecuted for killing Indigenous Australians. The Europeans came to drive the indigenous people off their land. He was held prisoner for over a year until he finally agreed to leave Australia. By Tim Lambert. The indigenous people fought 'hit and run' raids and parties of Europeans went out to kill Indigenous Australians. 13. Both Arab and Chinese documents tell of a southern land, but with such inaccuracy that they scarcely clarify the argument. He was followed by Philip King 1800-1806. Naturally, the Indigenous Australians resented this and fought back. He (and some later Roman Catholic historians) saw this as the discovery of the southern land. He then explored the island of New Zealand before returning to Batavia, on Java. Licenses were abolished. However after the American War of Independence (1775-1783) this was no longer possible and the government began looking for a new destination for transportees. The Anzacs were withdrawn in December 1915 having suffered nearly 8,000 casualties. The British government showed its interest by backing several voyages. They were led by an Irishman named Peter Lalor (1827-1889). A brief history of immigration to Australia. The quest for wealth and knowledge might logically have pulled the Portuguese to Australian shores; the assumption has some evidential support, including a reference indicating that Melville Island, off the northern coast, supplied slaves. Australia, formally the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country and sovereign state in the southern hemisphere, located in Oceania.Its capital city is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney.. Australia is the sixth biggest country in the world by land area, and is part of the Oceanic and Australasian regions. Documenting a Democracy - Australia's story The (hi)story of Australia's Democracy. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. The nadir came in autumn 1790 as supplies shrank; the arrival of a second fleet brought hundreds of sickly convicts but also the means of survival. The waterside workers went on strike in 1928-29. The First Fleet sailed on May 13, 1787, with 11 vessels, including 6 transports, aboard which were about 730 convicts (570 men and 160 women). Excited by finding gold, Mendaña hoped that he had found the great southern land and that Spain would colonize there. A second expedition of 1644 contributed to knowledge of Australia’s northern coast; the Dutch named the new landmass New Holland. The first Australian soldiers left by a ship in November 1914. Australia History & Background. Due to its isolation from the rest of the world, Australia was an uninhabited island until about 60,000 years... Government. Date Event; 60,000 B.C. 40,000 years ago. Geography >> Oceania >> Australia History and Timeline; Australia Capital: Canberra Population: 25,203,198 The Geography of Australia Borders: Australia is an island and a continent. In 1595 Mendaña sailed again but failed to rediscover the Solomons. Cattle were very important to the northern economy. In 1851, gold was discovered in Australia. In the late 19th century Northern Australia began to grow. For a more detailed discussion of Aboriginal culture, see Australian Aboriginal peoples. Cattle were very important to the northern economy. On board were 759 convicts, most of them men with sailors and marines to guard the prisoners. Meanwhile William Brahe waited at Coopers Creek until 21 April. It fell to about 6% by 1988 but then began to rise again. 2003, "Hiding the Bodies: the myth of the humane colonisation of Australia", in Journal of Aboriginal History, Vol. By 1820 there 100,000 sheep in Australia. In 1923 radio broadcasting began in Australia. For a more detailed discussion of Aboriginal culture, see Australian Aboriginal peoples. Australia History Timeline. Australia's long history of immigration and the increasing ethnic diversity of its population have spurred debates about the definition of an Australian. Herein is a brief summary of Australia’s wildfire history. They were commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip (1738-181… This act is regarded by some as the first settlement of Australia and by others as an invasion of their land. By 1850 half of all wool woven in Britain came from Australia/Tasmania. Australia was first inhabited perhaps 40,000 years ago by aboriginal peoples. Meanwhile Flinders had returned home and in 1801 was appointed to command an expedition that would circumnavigate Australia and virtually complete the charting of the continent. He then decided to leave, only hours before Burke, Wills, and King returned. Australia, once known as New South Wales, was originally planned as a penal colony. Adelaide had about 115,000 and Brisbane 86,000. Australian History Timeline Timeline Description: Australia has been the home to humans for thousands of years, even though it wasn't officially a country until the last few centuries. From its weird animals and strange food to its innovative engineering and modern cities, here are all the Australia facts (with sources!) The new federal system of governance divided power between the national (Commonwealth) government and the new state governments. Bligh forbade this. At first things were difficult for the colonists and food was short although Phillip sent a ship to South Africa for more provisions which returned in May 1789. History of the Australian nation – State Library of NSW Archived 2007-11-22 at the Wayback Machine; The Australian History page at Project Gutenberg of Australia; Bush Poetry a source of Australian History Archived 2008-01-13 at the Wayback Machine; An Aborigine on his understanding of tradition This page was last changed on 16 March 2021, at 03:44. In 1872 an overland telegraph was made from Darwin to Adelaide. Of the 12 men, 11 were brought to justice. These continued until November 1943. Burke and Wills both died of starvation. The population of Tasmania grew rapidly. Though the range remained hidden from the outside world till recent times, Aboriginals people have lived in the area for more than 40,000 years. However all did not go smoothly in Australia at the beginning of the 19th century. It is the largest island – and one of the largest countries – in the world. Whatever the deeper motivation, plans went ahead, with Lord Sydney (Thomas Townshend), secretary of state for home affairs, as the guiding authority. Summary: Australia facts: A collection of interesting points about the country, including history, geography, its culture, cuisine, cities, flag, people and more. The National Archives of Australia We care for valuable Commonwealth government records and make them available for present and future generations to use. The Australian population was 19,222,000 in 1999, spread across 7,713,364 square kilometers of land. The fleet reached Botany Bay on January 19–20, 1788. Although hopes of growing flax in Australia came to nothing but whales were hunted in the Pacific and seals were hunted in the Bass Strait. Australian. Most important of all was the work of Abel Tasman, who won such respect as a seaman in the Dutch East Indies that in 1642 Governor-General Anthony van Diemen of the Indies commissioned him to explore southward. Unemployment was high in the 1990s but at the beginning of the 21st century the situation improved. In 1971 Indigenous Australians were included in the census for the first time. To read about the background to these events, see History of Australia. In 1813 Europeans discovered a pass through the Blue Mountains. Canada. However in 1929 the depression hit Australia. Sydney was founded in 1788 when the first fleet arrived in Australia from England. In northern Australia at the beginning of World War II, an English aristocrat inherits a cattle station the size of Maryland. Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian oceans. In March 1804 some Irish convicts led by Philip Cunningham took part in a rebellion at Castle Hill. Australia in Brief. On November 11 1975 the governor-general dismissed the Australian government, which caused much controversy. Meanwhile Australia had gained its first universities. Nevertheless, links with Britain weakened. In 1830 he ordered all able-bodied white men to form a line across Tasmania and sweep across it forcing all the remaining indigenous people onto the Tasman Peninsula. Brisbane history links. A court finally overturned the doctrine of 'terra nullius', the idea that Australia did not belong to anybody when the Europeans arrived. However, the treaty was not recognized by the British government, which disregarded it. Captain Phillip left Australia in December 1792. However, they continued to die of disease and in 1847 the few survivors were allowed back onto Tasmania. The motives for this move have become a matter of some controversy. Throughout history, people with disability have been ignored, hidden and cursed. Sydney also suffered an outbreak of smallpox in 1913 but fortunately only 4 people died. There were many immigrants from Britain after 1945. Updated 0323 GMT (1123 HKT) March 7, 2017. In the 1950s and 1960s there was full employment and affluence. More than 250 free persons accompanied the convicts, chiefly marines of various rank. Then in February 1942, the Japanese began air raids on Darwin. On 1 January 1901, the once independent colonies were formed for the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia’s capital is Canberra, located in the southeast between the larger and more important economic and cultural centres of Sydney and Melbourne. One such expedition, from Peru in 1567, commanded by Álvaro de Mendaña, discovered the Solomon Islands. During the 17th century and 18th century European explorers reached Australia. Queensland became independent in 1859. Queensland grew from a settlement at Moreton Bay, which was founded in 1824. Australia : History. The population of New South Wales was about 1.4 million. Its closest neighbours are New Zealand to the east and Papua New Guinea to the north. He moved the fleet there; the flag was hoisted on January 26 and the formalities of government begun on February 7. The largest city was Melbourne with a population of about 420,000. In the 18th century, convicts were transported to Virginia and Maryland in what is now the USA. The native inhabitants of Australia are the Aborigines. The reality of the first collision of cultures between Indigenous Australians and British colonials has gone unacknowledged for most of our shared history. This became the basis of Australia's basic wage. For one thing, inflation rose. That, of course, did not happen. Phillip therefore sailed northward on January 21 and entered a superb harbour, Port Jackson, which Cook had marked but not explored. For a short time, the newcomers lived peacefully with the Aboriginal people. The miners claimed the authorities were corrupt and unfair. On 2 December 1854, they erected a stockade at Eureka Lead. Phillip remained as governor until December 1792, seeing New South Wales through its darkest days. Nevertheless, the city of Melbourne was laid out on the land in a grid pattern. Australia in Brief Isolation of the Australian island-continent for 55 million years created a sanctuary for the flora and fauna. Two Admiralty expeditions—under Phillip Parker King (1817–22) and John Clements Wickham (1838–39)—filled this gap. A summary of Canadian history. Since the European invasion of Australia in 1788, the Aboriginal people have been oppressed into a world unnatural to their existence for thousands of years. They were forced to eat the horse and some of the camels. Finally, in 1982 all appeals to the British courts were ended. Likewise, Muslim voyagers who visited and settled in Southeast Asia came within 300 miles (480 km) of Australia, and adventure, wind, or current might have carried some individuals the extra distance.