Australia's brief history

James Cook landing in Botany Bay.

The first known explorations of Australia and the surrounding territories date back to the 16^th century, when the major European powers at the moment – Portugal and Spain – explored the area. It is believed, for instance, that a Portugese map of 1528 already showed Australia named as “Java la grande”. Another expedition, led by the Spanish Luis de Torres, sailed the Torres Strait, in the north of the island, whereas the Dutch Abel Tasman discovered Van Diemen’s land (Tasmania). Nonetheless, the best-known voyages were those of James Cook, who explored the territories on behalf of the British Admiralty, and landed in Botany Bay in 1770. This date is generally considered tby lots of manuals as the date of the discovery of Australia.

In 1788, the British government determined the colonization of the new land, not only as an strategy for control, but also due to the need to relieve British prisons after the loss of American colonies, which, until their independence, had served to send British convicts. That is, Australia was born as a penal colony. Subsequent British colonization policies and land laws for the conquest of the territory were framed in the belief that the colony was being acquired by occupation of a terra nullius (no man’s land), which marked the beginning of the dispossession and oppression that Australian aboriginals suffered under British control.

Australian flag, first flown in 1901.

British presence extended to Australia’s inland from the 1820’s onwards, although it was not until the periods of 1850’s, 1860’s and 1870’s that the country grew economically thanks to the wool and mineral industries. The first significant mineral discovered was copper, although much more remarkable was the discovery of gold in in 1851, which set the beginning of Australian Gold Rush.

Regarding politics, the colonies had achieved self-government in the 1850’s, but their federation had to wait until 1901, when the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian constitution came into existence. Still, not until 1931 was Australia totally independent from the United Kingdom as a result of the Statue of Westminster (passed by the Commonwealth of Nations).   

Battle of Gallipoli.

When the First World War started, Australia sent about 300,000 soldiers to fight, which together with those sent by New Zealand formed the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). They fought in the Dardanelles Campaign, in the landing of Gallipoli in 25^th April 1915, and this day has become the National Day for both countries. When war was declared again in 1939, Australia also responded sending soldiers to Europe, although the bombing of Pearl Harbour meant the redirection of the focus of resistance to the Pacific, as Australians feared a Japanese invasion. In this sense, the United States became a powerful ally, which, after the war, continued to exert its influence in Australian affairs, thereby diminishing British power over the country.

The Second World War generated an economic growth which continued until the 1970’s, but this prosperity was only enjoyed by the white section of Australian population. Aboriginals continued to be ignored and discriminated, as well as immigrants who suffered the consequences of the White Australia Policy (especially those of Asian origin) which only allowed immigrants from European descent to enter the country.

The dismantlement of the policy in 1973 completely transformed Australian society, as now about one-third of Australia’s new settlers come from Asian countries. Moreover, the 20^th century also saw the reconciliation between white Australians and Aboriginals, which culminated in the official apology for the Stolen Generations (see Aboriginal history and culture post) declared by the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008.

Source: 

- Encyclopedia Britannica 2006.

- Government of Australia - Fact sheet "White Australia Policy".