Lieutenant James Cook charts Australia’s eastern coastline and proclaims it Britain’s possession. This marks the first claim to British sovereignty over the Australian continent. It follows the issue by the British Government of the Secret Instructions for Lieutenant James Cook Appointed to Command His Majesty’s Bark the Endeavour 30 July 1768. Cook made three voyages to the South Pacific between 1768 and 1779.

The British Government selects Captain Arthur Phillip to establish a new British colony, to become known as New South Wales. His first Commission is signed on 12 October 1786. A second Commission issued in April 1787 appoints Captain Phillip as Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief of the First Fleet, and a third Commission, dated 24 April 1787, provides him with details concerning the limits of the new colony and sets out his general tasks.

On 19 January the First Fleet enters Botany Bay under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, and on 26 January, from the landing site at Port Jackson in Sydney Cove, he proclaims the new colony of New South Wales. The First Fleet comprises 1030 people including male and female convicts, marines and civil officers and their wives, and 37 children.

A printing press arrives with the First Fleet. It is another eight years before a convict with skills to work the press can be found, but it plays a important role in disseminating ideas, waging political campaigns, and promoting public debate and awareness of issues; crucial issues in the history of Australian democracy. George Hughes, Australia’s first government printer, produces over 200 individual government orders and regulations between 1796 and 1800. He also prints playbills for the first two plays staged in the colony: Farquhar. The Recruiting Officer and Shakespeare. Henry the Fourth. Hughes is replaced by another convict, George Howe, and in 1802 he publishes the colony’s first book, “New South Wales Standing Orders”. In 1803, he publishes the first newspaper, The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser and, 16 years later, the first literary work, “First Fruits of Australian Poetry” by Judge Barron Field.

Colonel David Collins chooses the site of Hobart as the base for the new convict settlement of Van Diemen’s Land, and serves as Lieutenant-Governor until his death in 1810.

Matthew Flinders completes the first circumnavigation of the continent in 1803. He writes in his journal, A Voyage to Terra Australis, that the name Australia is more agreeable to the ear. Governor Macquarie subsequently adopts the name Australia; in official correspondence after receiving a copy of Flinders journal, A Voyage to Terra Australia, published in 1814.

An Order-in-Council separates Van Diemen’s Land from New South Wales following petitions from colonists, and legislative and executive councils are established.

The Swan River Colony is proclaimed by Lieutenant-Governor James Stirling. The new colony will later become Western Australia.

Letters Patent proclaim the province of South Australia and an Order-in-Council establishes the South Australian Government, making it the only colony to be authorised by an Act of parliament. Convict transportation is forbidden.

An Order-in-Council declares that New South Wales will receive no more convicts. While convict transportation continues to other states, the movement to end the practice grows stronger. Convict settlement in Australia will finally end in 1868.

In Australia’s first nationwide political movement, Congregational minister John West circulates an anti-transportation letter among organisations and influential men known to oppose continued transportation to Van Diemen’s Land. The appeal is successful and leads to an abolitionist conference in 1851 in Melbourne, and the formation of the Australasian League for the Prevention of Transportation. West preaches that ‘Australians are one’ and should act together in spite of artificial boundaries.

The Australian Colonies Government Act 1850 is passed by the British Parliament, separating the southeastern Australian district of Port Phillip from New South Wales and establishing it as the colony of Victoria. It is passed in response to the demands of the Port Phillip settlers, who feel inadequately represented in the NSW Legislative Council (self-governing since 1842) and who resent their revenues being channelled to the New South Wales area.

Great Britain formally abandons convict transportation to all colonies of Australia, except Western Australia.

Van Diemen’s Land is renamed ‘Tasmania’ after explorer Abel Tasman. It signifies a departure from British governance, and a new beginning for those opposed to continuing convict transportation.

The Moreton Bay district is proclaimed as the new colony of Queensland, with its own representative government and constitution.

Northern Territory administration transfers from New South Wales to South Australia. The Commonwealth government assumes responsibility from 1911 to 1978.

The final shipment of convicts disembarks in Western Australia. By the time transportation ends, an estimated 162,000 convicts have been shipped to Australia.

The last contingent of British troops withdraws from Australia. Each individual colony is made responsible for its own defence.

Australia’s Papua Act 1905 establishes British New Guinea as a territory of Papua and Australia assumes formal administration. On 1 January, 1906, Papua officially becomes an Australian territory.

The first Australian base in Antarctica — Mawson — is established in the Australian Antarctic Territory. Australia would also add the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to its territory in 1955 and the Christmas Islands in 1958.

The Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973 (Cth) provides for each of the territories to be represented by two Senators.

Papua New Guinea is proclaimed independent from Australia.