The first inhabitants of Australia were Aborigines, who migrated there before more than 40,000 years in Southeast Asia. There may have been between half and one million Aborigines at the time of European colonization, now living in Australia 350 000.
Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships noticed Australia in the 17th century. Dutch ships moored in the Gulf of Carpenter in 1606 in 1616 the land received the name "New Holland".
In 1770 the banks of the rising sun of Australia anchor the English navigator James Cook. After the U.S. declared its independence, Britain has no place to isolate criminals and therefore decided to send convicts away in the Pacific. The first ship with 1,500 convicted arrived in Australia in 1788 Since then the repression of indigenous peoples from fertile lands to unfriendly territory.
Free settlers and former prisoners established the six colonies: New South Wales in 1786, Tasmania in 1825, Western Australia in 1829, South Australia in 1834, Victoria in 1851 and Queensland in 1859
The discovery of gold in 1851 led to the emigration of many of the Australian continent. Thus began the rapid development of cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart. During World War II Australia ceases to be isolated and enter the war against Japan, along with allies from the West.
Many settlers were attracted by the feverish gold. Sheep farm and grain soon grew into important economic enterprises.
The six colonies became states in 1901 and is federated in Australia with a constitution that unites British parliamentary and U.S. federal traditions. So Australia gets liberal legislation: free compulsory education, protection of trade yunionizam with industrial conciliation and arbitration, secret ballot, women's rights to vote, maternity leave, retirement, sickness and old age.
Australia fought with Britain during World War I as part of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). The involvement of Australia in World War II it closer to America. Parliamentary power in the second half of the 20th century changes between three parties: Australian Labor, Liberal and National parties.
Australia softens selective immigration law in 1960 and 1970, which was in the interest of northern Europeans. Since then about 40% of immigrants come from Asia, diversifying population was mainly from England and Ireland.
