Land). As early as 40,000 years ago, aborigines lived and multiplied in this land of Australia. At present, the total number of Australian aborigines is 413,000 (data of 5438+0 census in 2006). 1606, Spanish navigator Luis Vaez de Torres sailed through the strait between Australia and New Guinea (Irian Island); In the same year, Duyfken of the Dutchman William Jane set foot in Australia, which was the first recorded foreigner to actually land in Australia, and named this place "New Holland". 1770, the English navigator Captain james cook discovered the east coast of Australia, named it "New South Wales" and declared that this land belonged to Britain.
The British first used Australia as a place to exile prisoners. 1788 65438+1October 18, a fleet of six ships led by Captain Philip arrived in Botany Bay, Australia, with a total of 1530 people, including 736 prisoners. Eight days later,178865438+1October 26th, they formally established the first British colony in Port Jackson, Australia, which later became the largest city with a growing population in Australia. This name is in memory of the then British Home Secretary Sydney. Every year after 65438+1October 26th, it becomes Australia Day. [2]
1790, the first batch of British freemen moved to Australia, with Sydney as the center and gradually developed inland. By 1803, the colonial area had expanded to today's Tasmania.
In 1950s, gold mines were discovered in New South Wales and Victoria. A large number of gold prospectors from Europe, America and China flocked to China. The population of Australia has soared from 400,000 in 1850 to10,000,000. Since then, many important gold mines have been discovered one after another, and a large number of mineral deposits have been discovered at the same time. These discoveries made Australia rich and developed rapidly.
1900, residents of all six colonies held a referendum of one person, one vote to decide whether to unify the six colonies into a federal country. The result of the vote is that the six places should be unified and a single Australian Federation should be established. 190 1 year 1 month 1 day, six colonies were unified into a federation, and the Australian federation was established, and the first constitution was adopted at the same time. The first six colonies became six states under the union.
1927, the Australian capital moved to Canberra. 193 1 year, the British Parliament passed the Westminster Act, which made Australia independent in domestic and foreign affairs and became an independent country in the Commonwealth.