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Claiming of Australia by James Cook
Captain James Cook was asked by the Royal Society to go with the Endeavor on a discovery voyage. The official goal was to record and observe Venus' transit around the Sun in order to calculate the distance between venus and the Sun and to help calculate the longitude.But the real mission was given to James Cook by the British crown, and it was to discover Terra Australis Incognita in order to colonize it. -
First free settlers arrive for a new life in Australia
British people were attracted by the idea of a new life in Australia, small farmers wanted to set up larger farms than those they could have in England. Some were also attracted by natural ressources (gold, gemstones...) -
First colony built in Sydney cove
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New colony set up on Tasmania
In 1808, a new colonywas set up for British convicts on Tasmania. Free settlers soon followed. -
A new generation of Australians
By now, half the people living in Australia were born there. The first settlers, who arrived years before, built their life and had children, creating a new generation. -
A gold discovery
In February 1851, gold was discovered in the New South Wales. This discovery led to the arrival of even more settlers. The population was now nearly half a million people. -
A new province : Victoria
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Self-governement for four provinces
Four of the five provinces of Australia granted 'self-governement'. They managed most of their own affairs but remained under the British Empire. -
Creation of Queensland
Queensland was the last province to be created in the north-east of Australia. -
Australian Federal Convention of 1891
At the time, over 80% of the people in Australia was born there. During the Convention of the Australian Federation, the six colonies met up to draw a set of rules about how to run Australia as a united country, independent of Britain. -
Self-governement for all the six provinces
By that time, all six provinces or territories were 'self-governing'. -
Creation of the Commonwealth of Australia
In 1901, the 'Commonwealth of Australia' came into existence. All the provinces now form one 'Federation' with its own Parliament but the British monarch remains the head of the state. This year marks the birth of a nation. A new capital city was even built from scratch: Canberra, and soon after, a flag was created. Australia quickly created its own army and navy, as well as laws on education, transport, pensions and much more. However, there were still some legal links to Britain after 1901. -
Independence of Australia
After the creation of the 'Commonwealth of Australia', the country gradually gained more and more control, until finally, in 1986, Australia became totally independent of Britain