Australian Colonial History

Australian colonial history began with British settlement in 1788 when the First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay, establishing New South Wales as a penal colony. Over the 19th century, more settlers arrived, expanding colonies across the continent. This led to significant impacts on Indigenous populations, including displacement and violence. Gold rushes in the 1850s fueled immigration and economic growth. Australia gradually gained self-governance and, in 1901, federated into the Commonwealth of Australia. The colonial era shaped the nation's identity, demographics, and cultural landscape, leaving a complex legacy that is still addressed today.