Some
Important Years In
Australia's
History
Willem
Jansz, a Dutch captain, is
believed to be the first
European to explore the Australian
coast. Captain
James Cook, an English explorer,
claimed eastern Australia
for England. The
First Fleet arrived at Botany
Bay and established a penal
colony at what is now Sydney.
On the 11th. February the
first Australian court sat
to try three convicts for
crimes committed on the colony's
shores. The
first Merino Sheep were brought
to Australia from South Africa. Australia's
first rebellion was a revolt
of Irish convicts at Castle
Hill near Parramatta, NSW. Bligh
took the office of Governor
of New South Wales. Sydney. The
Rum Rebellion: Officers of
the NSW Corps arrest Governor
Bligh and take control of
the colony. Governor
Macquarie arrives and restores
the authority of Governor. Civil
courts established in New
South Wales. NSW
act passed establishing Legislative
Council (of 5 appointed members)
to assist Governor. Supreme
Court established. Government
House hosts the first meeting
of Legislative Council. Australia's
first street light was erected
in Macquarie Place, Sydney.
It operated on whale oil
and was the only street light
for over a year. All
current English common and
Statute law adopted in New
South Wales. The
Legislative Council was expanded
to 10 - 15 members and begin
meeting in the Surgeon's
wing of Sydney General Hospital
("The Rum Hospital"). The
colony of Western Australia
was founded at Perth, giving
Great Britain control of
the entire Australian continent. John
Batman purchased approximately
600 000 acres of land from
local aborigines to create
the basis for Melbourne. The
colony of South Australia
established by George Fife
Angus and others. The
Legislative Council was increased
to 36 members (24 elected)
as the result of the New
South Wales' 1842 Constitution.
Approximately 10% of adult
males have the vote. Transportation
of British convicts to Sydney
was abolished. However, it
continued in Hobart, on the
island of Tasmania, and in
Western Australia for several
years, allowing those colonies
to grow quickly. Ther first
gummed postage stamps were
issued in NSW and Victoria. Gold
was discovered in New South
Wales and Victoria, and a
new wave of immigrants soon
moved to Australia. Melbourne
and other cities prospered
in the following decades. The
Legislative Council was expanded
to 54 members with 36 elected.
About 25% of adult male non-aboriginals
have the vote. The
Coach business Cobb and co.
was established by Freeman
Cobb and three other Americans. Australia's
most bitter and bloody civil
battle occurred when miners
fought against police and
soldiers at Eureka. The
NSW Constitution Act passed
granting New South Wales
responsible Government. Bicameral
Parliament first meets with
54 members of an elected
Legislative Assembly and
21 members appointed to the
Legislative Council. Electoral
Reform: Secret ballot introduced
with most non-aboriginal
adult male residents receiving
the vote. Colonial
Laws Validity Act passed
allowing, in most cases,
the Australian Colonies to
repeal or amend British law
in Australia. The
Welcome Stranger, the largest
gold nugget ever discovered,
was found in Victoria. The
drought resistant 'Federation'
variety of wheat was made
available to farmers by its
developer, William James
Farrer Thomas
Alexander Browne (aka Rolf
Bolderwood) had his most
popular novel, Robbery Under
Arms, published. Saw
the emergence of political
parties and the movement
toward the Federation of
Australian Colonies into
one nation. Electoral
Reform. One man one vote
was established for males
only. Bubonic
Plague was reported in both
Adelaide and Sydney. Federation:
The Commonwealth of Australia
was proclaimed. The same
year, the White Australia
Policy was implemented. Sir
Edmund Barton became Australia's
first Prime Minister. New
South Wales Constitution
Act consolidates earlier
acts. Women given the right
to vote. The
first Director of Education
in NSW, Peter Board, was
the responsible for the Free
Education Act, NSW. Many
Australians enlisted for
service in World War I. However,
enthusiasm for the war waned
as the Australian economy
suffered. Australian
and New Zealand troops attack
the Galipoli Peninsula in
Turkey with devastating results. Women
able to stand for election
to the Legislative Assembly.
the Labor Party was formally
named and established. W.
Hudson Fysh and others started
the Queensland and Northern
Territory Arial Service Limited
(Qantas) which was the first
airline in eastern Australia. Saw
the formation of the Royal
Australian Air Force. Women
were able to be appointed
to the Legislative Council.
The Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation
(the CSIRO) was established
by the Australian Government. Compulsory
Voting introduced to New
South Wales (except for Aborigines).
The Flying Doctor Service
began operating thanks to
the persistence of Reverend
John Flynn. The
Great Depression was made
worse in much of Australia
by deflationary government
policies. The Statute of
Westminster - British Parliament
no longer able to pass laws
in respect to dominions unless
specifically requested by
them. Gundagai,
New South Wales, unveiled
the 'Dog on the Tuckerbox'
It was erected as a monument
to the local farmers. Following
the 1933 constitutional amendments
the Legislative Council is
no longer appointed but elected.
The House now consists of
60 members with terms of
12 years. Darwin
was bombed repeatedly until
Australian forces helped
stop the Japanese advance
in the Pacific during World
War II. The
Liberal Party was formed
from the old United Australia
Party. Voting
restrictions on Aborigines
removed but voting not compulsory. The
military draft was introduced
in Australia for the first
time. Australian troops were
sent to Vietnam the next
year. Australian
Constitution amended to allow
Commonwealth to make laws
for Aborigines and include
them in the census. Voting
age for all Australians reduced
to 18. NSW
Legislative Council restructured.
Now 45 members are elected
by the whole state with one
third being elected each
election. Parliamentary
term extended from three
to four years. Enrollment
and voting compulsory for
all Australians. Australia
Act: Last legislative links
with Britain cut. British
Parliament can no longer
pass or make judgment on
Australian laws. Australia
celebrated its bicentennial. Size
of New South Wales Parliament
reduced. The Legislative
Assembly to 99 members and
the Legislative Council to
42 with half elected each
election. The
size of the NSW Legislative
Assembly reduced from 99
to 93
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