AUSTRALIA’S PAST

Australia has one of the most fascinating and ancient cultural histories on the planet. This isolated continent’s first inhabitants, the aboriginals, arrived on the island around 70, 000 years ago and have lived here ever since.

Australia’s modern history, however, begins with the arrival of the Europeans in the 16^th century - William Jansz in 1606, and Abel Tasman in 1642, the first Portuguese then Dutch explorers looking for resources to exploit. It was the British, however, who made the greatest lasting impact on this land. In 1770 Captain James Cook sailed along the entire eastern coastline and said Australia now belonged to Britain. Based on his reports, the English decided to colonise Australia, and in 1787 sent the First Fleet to the continent with 11 ships, 750 convicts, soldiers and supplies for two years. They reached Port Jackson - now Sydney-in January 1788. Life was very difficult, and the convicts had to work very hard, making roads, buildings and farms.

In 1851 gold was found in New South Wales and Victoria. Thousands of people went looking for gold - first Australians, then people from North America, Britain, New Zealand and China. In 10 years the population grew from 400, 000 to 1, 200, 000. With the gold came new road and railways and growing cities.

Adding to the original population of convicts, a flurry of free settlers began arriving in Australia over the proceeding decades. When gold was discovered in the 1850s, this distant colony changed forever as a massive influx of prospectors and speculators flooded into Australia, boosting the economy and changing the social dynamics. Aboriginals were forced off their traditional lands to make way for farmers, miners and cattle ranchers. The Industrial Revolution in England was in full swing at this point, and Australia was seen as a major source of materials.

In 1901, Australia officially became a nation when the different colonies joined together in a federation. The Japanese tried to take control of the island during the first part of the 1900s, but with American help they were emphatically defeated. This marked the beginning of the alliance between Australia and the United States which continues today.

After WWII, a wave of European immigrants moved to Australia, revitalising its economy and adding new dimensions to its cultural fabric. The nation is part of the Commonwealth and maintains close ties with the US and Britain.

1. Who were the first inhabitants of Australia?
2. When does the modern Australian history begin?
3. Who is said to discover the country?
4. What country had Australia belonged to for many years?
5. Why did a lot of people from different countries go to Australia?