THE HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAEarly exploration

The native people of Australia are the Aborigenes. They have lived there for 60,000 years.

In the early 17th century, Europeans arrived, but they didn't settle until 17th and 18th centuries.

British colonisation

In 1770, Captain James Cook landed on the east coast of Australia naming it New South West.

This area became part of the British Empire.

The British governament, in that period, started to send prisoners to another country far away:

in 17th and 18th centuries was North America, but when it became independant in 1783, Australia was the perfect

solution.In 1787, eleven ships sailed to Australia from England:

half of the people were convicts.They named the place where they landed Sydney and

there they started a colony.

Emigration in the 19th century

Convicts were not the only people to go to Australia.

From the 19th century, Britons and Europeans left their country to start a new life there

Sheep farming became an important industry.

In 1851, when they discovered gold, immigration incresead: in 10 years the population grew from 400,000 to 1.2 million.

Britain and Australia in the 20th century.

In 1901, Australia became a federation of colonies called the Commonwealth of Australia.

After World War II, the Australian governament encouraged immigration to help build up the economy.

During the 20th century, Australia became more independant from Britain even if the Queen is still Australia's monarch.