about 50000 BP
the first Aborigines arrive in Australia coming across the land
bridge from South-East Asia 1642 the Dutch Abel Tasman
discovers Van-Diemens-Land, which is later named after him: Tasmania 1688 the English pirate William
Dampier visits Western Australia 1770 the seafarer Captain Cook
occupies the Eastern half of Australia in the name of the English
King George III.
1788 Captain Arthur Philips
reaches Australia's mainland with 736 prisoners on the First Fleet
and he founds the first settlement called Sydney Cove. This happens
on January 26th, which will later become national holiday 1789 mutiny on the Bounty. The
expelled Captain Bligh becomes Governor of the colony New South
Wales 1793 the number of voluntary
immigrants searching for a new home is constantly increasing 1797 import of merino sheep from
Cape of Good Hope 1798 by sailing round the
seafarers Matthew Flinders and George Bass get evidence that
Tasmania is and island (therefore the ocean area between the
mainland and Tasmania is today called Bass Street) 1801-1803 Matthew Flinders
rounds the continent and is the first to map out the whole coast
line 1804 foundation of Tasmania's
capital Hobart 1814 first mention of the name
Australia by the English researcher Matthew Flinders. This name is
generally accepted replacing the old name "New Holland" 1825 prisoners cultivate the
land of today's city area of Brisbane 1827 Western Australia is
occupied by England's king 1829 foundation of Western
Australia's capital Perth 1840 last prisoners transported
to New South Wales 1841 New Zealand severs from
Australia and becomes an original colony 1850 the English Crown gives New
South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia almost unlimited
autonomy 1851 gold is found in New South
Wales and
the new colony Victoria originates at Port Philip Bay 1858 Australia reaches a
population of one million 1859 Queensland is the fifth
state getting almost unlimited autonomy by the English Crown 1862 John McDouall Stuart passes
through the continent on the central route, which is nowadays called
Stuart Highway 1864 first sugar production in
Queensland 1872 laying of telegraph cables
between Java (Indonesia) and Darwin in the Northern Territory,
Australia is thereby connected to the rest of the world 1876 Truganini Australia's last
Aboriginal dies 1877 Australia reaches a
population of two millions 1888 100-year anniversary and
EXPO in Melbourne 1889 Australia reaches a
population of three millions 1859 the English Crown gives
Western Australia almost unlimited autonomy 1894 installation of universal
franchise for women in South Australia 1901 foundation of the
Commonwealth of Australia 1905 Australia reaches a
population of four millions 1913 Canberra becomes
Australia's capital 1914 Norfolk Island becomes part
of Australia 1918 Australia reaches a
population of five millions 1927 the parliament moves from
Melbourne to Canberra 1928 first flight of the Royal
Flying Doctor Service 1932 opening of the Sydney
Harbour Bridge 1942 Australia is united with
England during the war, Darwin suffers from Japanese attacks 1945 after WW II Australia
becomes foundation member of the United Nations (UN) 1948 installation of forty hours
work per week in whole Australia
production of the first Holden car 1951 opening of the School of
the Air, which teaches pupils in the outback by radio 1952 foundation of the
Pacific-Pact ANZUS for defence purposes consisting of the members
Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America 1954 widening of the ANZUS-Pact
to a South East Asia Treaty Organization SEATO with additional
members France, United Kingdom, Pakistan, the Philippines and
Thailand with seat in Bangkok. The SEATO was disbanded in 1977. 1956 Olympic Summer games in
Melbourne 1959 Australia reaches a
population of ten millions
1960 Australia's finest year - I was born 1961 discovery of new mineral
resources: ore in Pilbara (Western Australia) and oil in southwest
Queensland 1962 right to vote for
aborigines in Northern Territory 1974 cyclone Tracy destroys
Darwin 1977 passing of the Land Rights
Act, which for the first time lays down land rights of aborigines 1981 Australia reaches a
population of 15 millions 1982 economical depression and
drought in the east 1985 Ayers Rock and its
surrounding area (Uluru/Kata Tjuta) become property of the
aborigines 1988 200-year anniversary and
EXPO in Brisbane 1991 256.000 half- and pure
blood aborigines are counted in a national census 1992 opening of the Harbour
Tunnels in Sydney in order to ease the traffic across Sydney Harbour
Bridge 1995 Australia reaches a
population of 18 millions 1997 the construction of the
Olympic Village starts three years before the 2000 Olympic Games in
Sydney 1999 in a referendum the
Australian people decide against the foundation of a republic but
for keeping up the British Crown as their head of state 2000 Olympic games in Sydney
