European History

Although Indigenous Australians saw Australia as hundreds of different territories inhabited by hundreds of different groups, when the Europeans first settled in Australia in 1788, they saw the land as British colonies. A Governor appointed by the British Government governed each colony. When Captain Cook claimed the eastern part on Australia in 1770, Australia was regarded as a vacant land, or Terra Nullius, meaning “a territory belonging to nobody”. British settlers did not see the Indigenous Australians as the owners of the land. 

On January 18, 1788, the First Fleet led by newly appointed Governor of New South Wales, Captain Phillip Arthur, sailed to Botany Bay. In 1803, the colony of New South Wales was extended to Van Diemen’s Land out of fear of French settlement. Between 1825 and 1859, new colonies were set up in Australia permitted by the British Government. Van Diemen’s Land was a convict settlement until 1853 at which time the name was change to Tasmania. Western Australia was declared a colony on May 2nd 1829 as the British Government feared the French might try to set up a colony. South Australia’s first colonists arrived on Kangaroo Island and declared is as a colony on July 27th, 1836. Victoria was proclaimed on 1st July 1851. Queensland was not declared a colony until 1859. Each of the colonies was governed like a separate country – each having it’s own crest, flag and stamps!

In 1851 gold was discovered in Australia and immigrants from Europe and America poured into Australia in search of the metal. Between 1850 and 1860, the population jumped from 400 000 to 1 200 000. In 1855 the British Government allowed New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria to set up a Lower House in parliament, called the Legislative Assembly. South Australia was granted self-government in 1856, Queensland in 1859 but Western Australia had to wait until 1890 as convicts were still being sent there. Although each colony now had parliaments, Britain still held control and could overrule any laws. The idea of the colonies forming one nation grew very slowly. By the 1890s the development of railways, steamships and the telegraph brought colonies closer together. Talk began about the advantages of having an Australian parliament that would make uniform laws for all.

In 1900 the British Parliament passed the Constitution Act and Queen Victoria accepted the Act for Australia to become a nation. On 1^st January 1901, Australia was declared a nation with Edmund Barton appointed as Prime Minister and Alfred Deakin the Attorney General, who was in charge of the laws for the country. Lord Hopetoun was the first Governor General of the nation. It was his job to represent the Queen when she was not in Australia. He was also responsible for signing bills to become the law. By 1901 the site for Australia’s capital city had not yet been decided and it was agreed that the Parliament House of Victoria would be the temporary Parliament of Australia. The Parliament remained in Victoria until 1927.

Important People

Henry Parkes (1815-1896) was known as the “Father of Federation”, responsible for bringing the colonies of Australia together. Henry Parkes can also be seen today on our $5 note!

Edmund Barton (1849-1920) supported Henry Parkes’ call for Federation and was appointed Australia’s first Prime Minister in 1901. He gave up his role in 1903 to become a judge of the High Court.

Alfred Deakin (1856-1919) travelled with Edmund Barton to London to ensure the Constitution was passed for Australia to become a nation. He was Australia’s first Attorney General and became Prime Minister after Edmund Barton in 1903.

 Symbols of the Nation

In 1878 a competition was organised and prizes were offered for the creation of an anthem. “Advance Australia Fair” was written by Peter Dodds McCormick and performed for the first time in Sydney. A flag competition was held in 1900 when the Federal Government decided the new nation needed a symbol. 32 823 entries we displayed in the Exhibition Building in Melbourne. The prize was shared five ways, as each enterants designs were so similar. The youngest winner was a 14 year old boy. On September 3^rd, 1901, the flag was given approval by Australian Parliament. The top left hand corner shows a Union Jack representing Australia’s British heritage. Under the union Jack is a six-pointed star representing the six states (a seventh point was later added to represent Territories). The Southern Cross symbolises Australia’s place in the Southern Hemisphere.

Australia’s first Coat of Arms was officially accepted on May 7^th, 1908. It showed a shield enclosing the cross of St George who is the patron saint on England with five pointed stars. The shields colours of red, white and blue represent Australia’s association with Britain. An emu and a kangaroo support the shield and at the top a seven pointed star. In 1912 the Coat of Arms was altered to include the crests of all states’.

In 1908 the Federal Parliament finally settled on a territory that would become Australia’s Capital Territory. There were many suggestions for names such as New London, Empire City, Utopia and Waratah but in 1913 Australia’s capital city was called Canberra.

Timeline

1770 – Captain James Cook took over eastern Australia and called it New South Wales.

1788 – Captain Arthur Phillip headed the first British settlement in New South Wales.

1825 – Van Diemen’s Land became a separate colony.

1829 – Western Australia became a new British colony.

1836 – The colony of South Australia was declared.

1850 – Victoria was separated from New South Wales.

1851 – The colony of Victoria was proclaimed.

1853 – Van Diemen’s Land was renamed Tasmania.

1855 – Britain granted colonies self government – they had control of their internal affairs

1859 – Queensland became a British colony.

1900 – Australia delegates travelled to London to obtain consent for the new Constitution for Australia to become a nation. Queen Victoria signed the constitution in September.

1901 – January 1, the Commonwealth of Australia was declared. The first Governor General, Lord Hopetoun, appointed Edward Barton as Prime Minister. On 3^rd September the Australian Flag was officially approved.

1903 – The High Court of Australia was established.

1908 – Australia’s Coat of Arms was accepted. The site for Australia’s Capital Territory was chosen.

1913 – Australia’s capital city was named Canberra.

Information from this page was gathered from the following sources: 

Bereson, I. (2001). Building the Nation: From Colonies to Federation. Victoria: Reed Educational and Professional Publishing.