Written history

The 16thcentury: Australia is discovered by the Portuguese. The land is unattractive.

The early 17thcentury: The northern and western coasts of Australia are explored by

the Dutch who call the region New Holland.

1770: The English navigator Captain James Cook arrives in Australia, explores its

eastern coast and calls the region New South Wales, claiming it for Great Britain.

1779: Since the loss of the American colonies, the British prisons are over-

crowded. Britain seeks a suitable place to transport its criminals to. Captain Cook‟ s fellow explorer, Sir Joseph Banks, suggests New South Wales as such a place.

1787: The first fleet sets sail for New South Wales under the command of Captain

Arthur Philip, who is to become the colony‟ s first governor. The fleet consists of 11 ships with about a thousand male and female convicts.

1788, January 26: Captain Philip arrives in Australia. The first settlement is

established at Port Jackson, the site of the present city of Sydney. Now January 26 is Australia Day. For the new arrivals, New South Wales is just a penal colony, a harsh and horrible place. The colonists are faced with a constant threat of starvation.

1820 - 1850: Free settlers begin to arrive. Gradually, the interior land is explored,

and new settlements are built. The Aborigines are ruthlessly pushed off their lands by the new settlers.

1850 - 1851: The gold rush encourages many settlers to come. Six colonies are

founded.

The 1890s: These years witness the rise of the labour movement, the development of

Australian nationalism and federation. The Industrial Revolution in England requires plenty of raw materials, and Australia‟ s agricultural and mineral resources meet this demand.

1901, January 1: Australia becomes a nation when the federation of the separate

colonies is founded. The separate Australian colonies are united and proclaim themselves the Commonwealth of Australia, still a Dominion of the British Empire. It consists of six federal states and two internal territories.

1931: The Statute of Westminster formally ends most of the constitutional links

between Australia and the UK. However, the British capital still remains ruling in the economy of the country.

1942: The ties between Australia and Britain loosen significantly when it becomes

clear that the British forces are unable to defend Australia against the Japanese invasion. Americans immediately offer their help; and, since that time on, the Australian ruling circles have always looked towards the United States instead of Great Britain as the main protector of their interests.

The post World War II period: The new relationship between Australia and the

USA is officially proclaimed in the ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, United States) Treaty of Mutual Security, a military alliance of these powers in the South Pacific. Yet not only is Australia a US military base but also many US firms have a multibillion dollar economic interest in the country. Throughout Australia, the signs of Americanization are evident: many skyscrapers, a lot of McDonald‟ s fast-food restaurants, numerous American programmes on TV.

1980 - 1990: The formal dependence of Australia on Great Britain is ended.

Australia becomes the most developed state in the South Pacific, dominating the other countries of the area.