| The first humans are believed to have arrived | | | | fell dramaticly from a high of 350,000 due to |
| in Australia over 40,000 years ago. These | | | | the infectious diseases, forced |
| people arrived via land-bridges and/or sea | | | | resettlements, and other factors. Indeed, |
| crossings from Southeast Asia, and became the | | | | although the issues remain highly |
| indigenous people known as "aborigines". An | | | | controversial and disputed, some historians |
| additional and distinct group of early | | | | have characterized the events of the period |
| settlers, ethnically Melanesian, settled in | | | | as genocide. |
| the Torres Strait Islands (the Strait between | | | | |
| Australia and Papua New Guinea) and the far | | | | In 1850s, the European population increased |
| North of Queensland. | | | | further thanks to a gold rush, and between |
| | | | 1855 and 1890, each of the six British |
| Europeans first began to reach the area at | | | | colonies was separately granted responsible |
| the beginning of the 17th century. The first | | | | government - while the the colonies were |
| undisputed sighting of the Australian | | | | autonomous in their internal affairs, they |
| mainland was by the Dutch sea captain, | | | | Britain retained control of foreign affairs |
| William Janszoon in 1606. The Dutch are known | | | | and defense. In 1901, the six colonies were |
| to have chartered the western and northern | | | | united in a federation known as the |
| shorelines of the continent during the 17th | | | | Commonwealth of Australia. |
| century, but made no attempt at settlement of | | | | |
| what they called at the time "New Holland". | | | | Australia participated in both World War I |
| In 1770, British navigator, James Cook mapped | | | | and World War II as part of the British |
| parts of the East coast of Australia: the | | | | Empire. To many Australians the events of the |
| region today known as New South Wales. Cook | | | | world wars, especially the Gallipoli campaign |
| claimed the area for Great Britain. | | | | in World War I, and the Kokoda Track Campaign |
| | | | in World War II, were important milestones in |
| The first British colony was established in | | | | Australia's path to independent nationhood. |
| New South Wales on January 26th, a day that | | | | |
| is now remembered as "Australia Day". The | | | | Legally, Australia first moved towards |
| British formerly claimed the western portions | | | | independence from Britain with the Statue of |
| of Australia in 1859, and during the 19th | | | | Westminister in 1931 (although Australia did |
| century a whole series of separate British | | | | not ratify it until 1942, but then back dated |
| colonies were established around the | | | | its effect to 1939), which granted effective |
| continent. Much of this British colonization | | | | independence in most matters. Australia |
| was based upon the transportation of convicts | | | | however did retain some constitutional ties |
| to penal colonies, and it was only in 1848 | | | | with Britain for another 40 years, these only |
| that the transportation of convicts to New | | | | finally be severed with the passing of the |
| South Wales stopped. | | | | Australia Act in 1986. It should be noted |
| | | | that the British Queen Elizabeth II is also |
| The arrival of Europeans had a drastic effect | | | | Queen of Australia, and a 1999 national |
| on the indigenous aboriginal population. This | | | | referendum rejected becoming a republic. |