History of Australia

The aboriginal people inhabited the island first.

Between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago, aboriginals immigrated to Australia by boat from Asia. There could’ve been between a half million to a million aboriginal immigrants back then, but now this population has reduced to only about 350,000. In the 17th century, European explorers sighted Australia, but it wasn’t until 1770 when Great Britain took possession of the island, naming it New South Wales. Life in Britain at this time was hard and people would steal to survive. People were constantly being arrested; prisons became overcrowded, so Britain sent the convicts away to Australia. During the late 18^thand 19^th centuries, the six colonies were created, and later in 1901, the colonies combined to form the country that we know today.

http://www.australianhistory.org/convicts

http://www.clickforaustralia.com/History.htm

http://www.hht.net.au/discover/highlights/kids_fact_sheets/why_were_convicts_transported_to_australia