Free Australian History Timeline and Australian Notebooking Pages

1788—1988

Aboriginals arrive in Australia date unknown .
Prior to the First Fleet’s arrival Aboriginals had been living in Australia for thousands of years.
1788: The First Fleet from England under Arthur Phillip arrives at Sydney Cove.
1803: Matthew Flinders completes the first circumnavigation of the continent.
1804: A settlement in Tasmania is founded.
1808: The Rum Rebellion.
1813: Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth cross the Blue Mountains.
1813: Matthew Flinders calls New South Wales (Australia's old name) Australia.
1817: Oxley begins charting the rivers of NSW.
1824: A penal colony is founded at Moreton Bay, now the city of Brisbane.
1829: The settlement of Perth is founded.
1830: Sturt charts the Murray River.
1851: The Victorian gold rush starts in Ballarat.
1854: The Eureka Stockade.
1868: The transportation of convicts to Australia ceases.
1872: Overland Telegraph Line linking Darwin and Adelaide opens.
1891: A severe depression hits Australia.
1901: Australia becomes a federation on 1 January.
1911: Australian Capital Territory proclaimed.
1914: Australian soldiers are sent to the First World War.
1918: First World War ends.
1929: The Great Depression hits Australia.
1932: The Sydney Harbour Bridge opens.
1939: Australia enters the Second World War.
1942-43: Japanese planes make almost 100 attacks against Australian sites.
1949: Construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme begins.
1950: Australian troops are sent to the Korean War.
1963: Indigenous Australians are given full rights as citizens.
1966: Decimal currency introduced.
1971: Neville Bonner first Aborigine to become an Australian Member of Parliament.
1973: The Sydney Opera House is opened.
1974: Darwin is devastated by Cyclone Tracy.
1988: Australia celebrates its bicentenary.
© Downunder Literature 2009

Download Australian History Timeline as a PDF

Our Sunburnt Country: An Illustrated History of Australia

tells the story of Australia's heritage, from Aboriginal settlement until the present.

This Australian living history book will capture your child’s interest with its powerful literary text and vibrant illustrations. Reading this book alone will enrich your knowledge and understanding of Australian history and bring history alive to your children and leave them begging for another chapter.

Australian Timeline Notebook Pages

An Australian Timeline is an excellent tool to help your children see the chronological order of events. It is best that they make it for themselves. As they discover dates for different events they record them on the timeline. The timeline can be added to their notebook.

Download Australian History Timeline as a PDF