colonial Australia

Colonial Australia refers to the period from 1788, when the British established a penal colony in New South Wales, until the late 19th century, when various colonies began to unite. Initially, it was used to transport convicts, but free settlers soon arrived, seeking land and opportunity. The British expanded their control, impacting Indigenous communities through displacement and violence. The economy largely centered around agriculture, wool, and mining. By the late 1800s, growing nationalism led to discussions of federation, culminating in the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, marking a shift towards self-governance.