istoryworld
Events relating to australia
Australia becomes a separate land mass, isolating its living creatures. They evolve into many species unique to the area
The first human inhabitants of Australia make the crossing from southeast Asia
Seafarers reach and colonize Fiji, lying between Melanesia and Polynesia
Seafarers reach and colonize the Pacific island of Samoa
Seafarers colonize New Zealand, the last great island region in the Pacific to be reached by human beings
The huge stone heads standing on Easter Island are carved and erected at some time between the sixth and seventeenth century AD
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan crosses the Pacific in ninety-nine days and reaches Guam
Discovery of the Solomon Islands by a Spanish ship prompts interest in a possible Terra Australis Incognita ('unknown southern land')
Abel Tasman makes landfall in the Macquarie Harbour area in the island now known after him, Tasmania
The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman attempts to land in Golden Bay, New Zealand, resulting in a clash with the Maoris
Abel Tasman reaches yet more islands previously unknown to Europeans – Tonga and Fiji
Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe, is discovered on a Pacific island where he has survived alone for nearly five years
Easter Island is reached by the Dutch, beginning a spate of European discovery in the islands of the Pacific
Captain James Cook sails from Plymouth, in England, heading for Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus
Captain Cook's distinguished passengers, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, collect valuable specimens of Pacific flora
Captain Cook observes in Tahiti the transit of Venus, the primary purpose of his voyage to the Pacific
Captain Cook reaches New Zealand and sets off to chart its entire coastline
Captain Cook reaches the mainland of Australia, at a place which he names Botany Bay, and continues up the eastern coast
Captain Cook sets off, in HMS Resolution, on his second voyage to the southern hemisphere
British explorer Captain James Cook is killed in a skirmish with natives in Hawaii over a stolen boat
Joseph Banks tells a committee of the House of Commons that the east coast of Australia is suitable for the transportation of convicted felons
The First Fleet (eleven ships carrying about 750 convicts) leaves Portsmouth for Australia
After a journey of eight months from England the First Fleet reaches Australia, anchoring in Botany Bay
Arthur Phillip, selecting a suitable coastal site for the first penal colony in Australia, names the place Sydney Cove
Fletcher Christian leads a mutiny on HMS Bounty against the captain, William Bligh
