A Brief History of Australia
Population: The current population of Australia is 26.6 million as of March 2024, based on the latest data.
44% Christian | 40% No Religion Indigenous Population: 3.8%
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Capital of Australia: Canberra is the capital; a chosen compromise to settle the rivalry between Melbourne & Sydney.
Current Government: Labour Party (left of centre)
Prime Minister: Anthony Albanese
Imports: Machinery, vehicles, petroleum oils, medical & pharmaceutical products.
Exports: Iron ore, coal, petroleum gas, gold & meat.
Indigenous Australian Origins
Australia's Traditional People backdate their ancestry to the beginning of time. Modern technological advancements confirm Indigenous evidence that backdates 55,000+ years!
The first people to inhabit Australia arrived during ice ages when only short boat trips were required, due to much lower ocean levels. Aboriginal people spread throughout so called 'Australia'.
Indigenous Australians went about their uncomplicated lives, spending most of their time engaged in hunting and gathering, until the late 18th century.
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There were over 500 Indigenous Countries that made up this continent and over 250 different languages (800+ dialects) prior to European invasion. Indigenous Australian clan groups/communities are referred to as a 'mob'. Each mob have their own language(s), Culture, stories & beliefs. Recognise the differences and the similarities across different Indigenous mobs.
Indigenous Australians are the oldest surviving culture on planet Earth &
are the Traditional Owners of Australia.
Today, more than half of all Indigenous Australians live in towns. Often on the outskirts in terrible conditions.
Whilst they make up only 3.8% of the entire Australian population, they make up one third of our homeless population. Indigenous women (alone) make up one third of incarcerations. #blacklivesmatter #aboriginaldeathsincustody
Terra Nullius:
A law relating to new land discoveries and how they were formally recognised by European powers.
This law gave the authority to govern new territories across the world.
The 'Discovery' of Australia
Europeans believed there was a land mass in the southern hemisphere, of which they referred to as 'Terra Australia Incognito' meaning Unknown South Land. The first documented landing on Australia by a European was in 1606 by Williem Janszoon. He landed on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula and charted approximately 300km (186 miles) of coastline.
Captain James Cook
James Cook was the first recorded explorer to land on the east coast in 1770. He had with him maps showing the north, west and south coasts based on the earlier Dutch exploration. From 1770, land ownership of the ENTIRE Australian continent came under British colonial rule, leaving Indigenous inhabitants with no property rights to their own land.
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Cook landed in Botany Bay (Sydney) and observed a sparsely populated land. He noted sightings of small gatherings of local people sitting around campfires and various groups fishing. Cook and Joseph Banks (the accompanying botanist) incorrectly determined the remainder of the continent 'uninhabited', despite not traveling to remote parts of Australia. They drew conclusions assuming limited food & water.
The First Fleet
Cook & Banks decided that Australia would make an ideal penal colony for many inmates of Britain's overcrowded prisons. The 'First Fleet' consisted of 11 British ships that brought over convicts and free settlers to Australia under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788, 18 years after Cook.
Severe criminals (convicts) were sent to prisons to work sunrise to sunset in extremely poor conditions. Discipline included being whipped, chained in irons or execution. Free Settlers were people that chose to leave Britain to start a new life in Australia. They were given free land by the British Government. Non-threatening convicts worked as servants to the free settlers.
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Learn more about colonisation history of Australia, here.
Gold Rush
The 'convict' period came to an abrupt end with the discovery of gold. Miners from all over the world arrived in Australia in the 1850's. The goldfields in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia yielded rich harvests. The economic boom peaked during the 1880's and Melbourne become the richest city in the world.
Federation
The Commonwealth of Australia was created in 1901 with federation of all states. The capital of Australia couldn't be decided between Sydney & Melbourne which led to the creation of Canberra in Australia's Capital Territory (ACT). Tasmania, New Zealand & Fiji were asked to join the party but only Tasmania accepted the invitation; hence the geography of Australia today.
World War I
In April 15 of 1915 the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) took part in World War 1. April 25th was the date the ANZACs first landed in Gallipoli and still today is nationally recognised as a day of remembrance every year.
New Arrivals & Multiculturalism
In the post-war period, Australian exports flourished and more than 5 million people migrated to Australia in the late 20th century. Today, almost 1 in 3 Aussies were born overseas. Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Melbourne is the multicultural capital of the world.
Links between Britain & Australia have slowly eroded with the changes in population.
I personally suspect Australia will complete its journey to become a republic in the next decade... hopefully.