Key facts
- The First Fleet of 11 convict ships arrived from Great Britain on 26 January 1788.
- A gold rush began in 1851 in New South Wales and Victoria.
- On 1 January 1901 the colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia.
- In the 1967 referendum, more than 90% voted to count Aboriginal peoples in the Census.
The dates you need for the citizenship test are few: 26 January 1788 (the First Fleet arrives), 1851 (the gold rush begins), 1 January 1901 (Federation), 25 April 1915 (the Anzac landing at Gallipoli) and 1967 (the referendum to count Aboriginal peoples in the Census). Everything below comes from the testable section of Our Common Bond. Learn what happened at each date, not just the year.
Timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 65,000–40,000 years ago | The archaeological record indicates Aboriginal peoples arrived in Australia in this period. Aboriginal peoples’ creation stories begin with the beginning of time. |
| 26 January 1788 | The First Fleet of 11 convict ships arrives from Great Britain. Captain Arthur Phillip becomes the first Governor of New South Wales. |
| 1851 | A gold rush begins in New South Wales and Victoria. Chinese people are the first large group of migrants not from Europe. |
| 1900 | The Australian Constitution is passed as part of a British Act of Parliament. |
| 1 January 1901 | The colonies unite as the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Constitution comes into effect. The population is about four million, not counting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. |
| 25 April 1915 | The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps lands at Gallipoli, Türkiye, during World War I. This is remembered on Anzac Day. |
| After World War II | A wave of non-British migration, as millions of Europeans had to leave their homelands. |
| 1967 | A referendum: more than 90% vote “Yes” to count Aboriginal peoples in the Census. |
Why do these dates matter?
1788: the start of European settlement
British jails were overcrowded, so the British Government decided to transport convicts to the new colony of New South Wales. As more convicts and free settlers arrived, more colonies were established. Early free settlers came from Great Britain and Ireland.
Watch out: Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the First Fleet’s arrival in 1788, not of Federation.
1851: the gold rush
People came from around the world to make their fortunes. In 10 years, Australia’s population more than doubled.
1901: Federation
Before 1901 there were six separate, self-governing British colonies, each with its own laws on defence, immigration, postage, trade and transport. That made trade slow and expensive and defence weak. Federation created one nation, with a national parliament, government and High Court under the new Constitution.
1915: Gallipoli
Anzac Day, 25 April, is a solemn day to remember all Australians who served and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
1967: the referendum
Only a referendum can change the Constitution, and it needs a double majority. The 1967 result is one of the best-known examples.
Quick self-check
- How many ships were in the First Fleet? 11.
- What happened on 1 January 1901? The colonies united as the Commonwealth of Australia.
- Who were the first large group of migrants not from Europe? Chinese people, during the gold rush.
- What did the 1967 referendum do? Allowed Aboriginal peoples to be counted in the Census.
Keep going with Australia and its people, practise the topic, or take a mock test.