History of Australia

European settlement of Australia began in 1788 when a British penal colony was established on the east coast. From this starting point Australia grew rapidly and continually, expanding across the entire continent. A number of reasons contributed to Britain's decision to colonize Australia. The most important factor was Britain's need to relieve its overcrowded prisons. Several violent incidents at overcrowded prisons convinced the British government of the need to separate unruly elements from the rest of the prison populace. Additionally, Australia was of strategic importance to Britain, and it provided a base for the Royal Navy in the eastern sea. Also, Australia could be used as an entry point to the economic opportunities of the surrounding region. All these points figured in the decision by Lord Sydney, secretary of state of home affairs, to authorize the colonization.
To this affect, on May 13, 1787, Captain Arthur Phillip, commanding eleven ships full of convicts, left Britain for Australia. He successfully landed a full fleet at Botany Bay on January 18, 1788. However, they left the bay eight days later because of its openness and poor soil, and settled instead at Port Jackson, a few kilometres north. The ships landed at Sydney Cove on January 26th, with a total of 1037 people, including 568 males, 191 females and 13 children. There were 206 seamen who had 26 wives between them with a total of 13 children, and also 20 officials. Free settlers did not arrive until 1793. The settlement became known as Sydney.

Australia Day is now celebrated on 26 January each year, to commemorate this first fleet landing. Sir Edmund Barton was the first Prime Minister was voted into parliament on January 1st 1901. Since then, Australia has had 30 Prime Ministers, with John Howard (into his 4th term) currently leading Australia. Prime Ministers have served for as much as 16 years, 1 month and 8 days (Sir Robert Menzies), to as little as 8 days, (Francis Ford).

New South Wales was the first to draft a constitution, in 1855. All other colonies except Western Australia became self-governing in 1859. Western Australia's decision to become a penal colony in 1850 delayed responsible government until 1890.

The need to protect and promote common interests led to a series of inter-colonial conferences of premiers held at irregular intervals from 1863. A draft federal constitution was drawn up in 1891, and after intense debate at a colonial conference in 1898, it was submitted to the British Parliament for approval. The British Parliament ratified the constitution, and after the Australian People had shown their support for federation and the Constitution in a series of mini state-wide referendums, the Commonwealth of Australia came into being on January 1, 1901.

The first person to be executed in Australia was a young boy of 17. Young John Barrett was charged with stealing food, and was hung on the 6th March, 1788.

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