History of Australia

 This article is the top of the

History of Australia series.

 History of Australia before 1901

 History of Australia since 1901

 Constitutional history of Australia

Table of contents

1 History of Australia before 1901
2 History of Australia since 1901
3 Related entries

History of Australia before 1901

Main article: History of Australia before 1901

Australia has been inhabited for at least 50,000 years, since the remote ancestors of the current Australian Aboriginal people arrived from Southeast Asia. The land was not discovered by Europeans until the 17th century. It was claimed for the Britain in 1770, and first colonised in 1788 as a penal colony. Five other colonies, some penal and some free, were founded in the early 19th century.

History of Australia since 1901

Main article: History of Australia since 1901

In 1901, Australia adopted a federal constitution and became a self-governing dominion of the British Empire. Australian troops took part in both world wars. Since World War Two Australia has been transformed by a massive immigration programme. Australia remains a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state: a referendum to establish a republic was defeated in 1999.