Lexi Webster
The first documented landing on Australia by a European was in March 1606, when Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon landed on the western side of Cape York Peninsula. However, Europeans had long believed there was a land mass in the southern hemisphere, which they called Terra Australis Incognita, meaning Unknown South Land. The arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 marked the beginning of European colonisation in Australia, which had devastating consequences for Indigenous Australians, who saw their numbers drastically reduced between 1788 and 1900 due to loss of territory, exposure to new diseases, and violent conflict with colonists. From 1831, the British and Australian colonial governments subsidised the migration of thousands of people to Australia, boosting the European population and reducing the need for convict labour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First documented landing by Europeans | March 1606 by Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon |
| First Fleet | 1788 |
| Start of European colonisation | 1788 |
| Number of convicts sent to Australia | 160,000 |
| End of convict transportation in New South Wales | 1840 |
| End of convict transportation in Tasmania | 1853 |
| End of convict transportation in Western Australia | 1868 |
| Assisted migration introduced | 1831 |
| Number of migrants under assisted migration scheme | 357,000 |
| Year of the gold rush | 1850s |
| Year of the First World War | 1914-1918 |
| Year of the Great Depression | 1930s |
| Year of the Second World War | 1939-1945 |
| Introduction of the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme | 1945 |
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What You'll Learn
- European colonisation of Australia began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet
- Europeans believed Australia was 'terra nullius' (land belonging to no one)
- The British Government established a penal colony in New South Wales
- Convict transportation ended in Western Australia in 1868
- The Australian gold rush encouraged European migration and settlement
European colonisation of Australia began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet
The British settlement expanded to other parts of Australia, forcing Indigenous groups off their traditional lands. The Europeans believed that the land was free to claim as they saw no signs of ownership, such as fences or crops. They called it terra nullius, meaning land belonging to no one. The settlers cleared land for farming and built towns along the east coast, fencing off the land and restricting Indigenous access to essential resources. The Indigenous people also faced exposure to new diseases brought by the colonists and violent conflict with them, resulting in a drastic decline in their population.
In the 1800s, assisted migration schemes were introduced, where the British and Australian colonial governments subsidised the migration of thousands of people to Australia. This increased the European population in the country and reduced the need for convict labour. The colonial governments sought skilled labourers and single women, attracting many small farmers who had lost their land in Ireland and Scotland. By 1901, 78% of migrants in Australia were from England, Ireland, or Scotland, with smaller percentages from Germany, New Zealand, China, Italy, India, the USA, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
The gold rush also attracted British and other European migrants, who often brought their young families with them. Large numbers of Chinese migrants came to Australia during this period as well, but they tended to settle in ethnic enclaves within major cities due to social restrictions and government policies limiting their numbers. The various waves of migration to Australia had a significant impact on the country's demographics and social fabric.
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Europeans believed Australia was 'terra nullius' (land belonging to no one)
Europeans have had a long history of migration to Australia, with the first documented landing on Australian soil by a European taking place in March 1606. The Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon, in the ship "Little Dove", landed on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula, charting about 300 km of coastline. However, he thought he was mapping part of New Guinea.
The arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 marked the beginning of European colonisation in Australia, bringing with it a process of mass immigration. The first migrants were convicts, with about 160,000 convicts sent to Australia over 80 years, mainly to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). Most convicts remained in Australia after serving their sentences. The consequences of colonisation on Indigenous Australians were devastating, with their numbers decreasing by as much as 90% between 1788 and 1900. This drastic decline resulted from several factors, including loss of traditional territory, exposure to new diseases, and violent conflict with colonists.
The doctrine of terra nullius, which translates to "land belonging to no one", was a key factor in justifying European colonisation. Europeans believed that the absence of signs of land ownership, such as fences, crops, or buildings, indicated that the land was free to claim. This notion was based on 18th-century British attitudes that associated cultivation and farming with established societies and property rights. Lieutenant James Cook's voyage in 1770 and his declaration of the land as the property of Britain's King George III further solidified this belief. However, this ignored the presence of Indigenous populations and their established connections to the land.
The legal fiction of terra nullius was formally overturned in the High Court of Australia's Mabo decision in 1992. This ruling recognised the past and continuing connection of Indigenous peoples to the land and led to the creation of the Native Title Act 1993. The Mabo case, brought by Eddie Koiki Mabo, affirmed the legal rights of First Nations peoples to their traditional lands and set a significant legal precedent. Today, the term terra nullius is used to explain how Australia was founded and to acknowledge the dispossession and inhumane treatment of First Nations peoples during colonisation.
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The British Government established a penal colony in New South Wales
The decision to establish the penal colony in New South Wales was influenced by several factors. One significant factor was the loss of the American colonies in 1783 following the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). As a result of this conflict, Britain lost most of its territory in North America, prompting the government to seek alternative locations for colonies. Captain Arthur Phillip, under whose command the First Fleet sailed, had previously made landfall on the east coast of Australia in 1770. Botany Bay, located in present-day New South Wales, was chosen as the site for the new colony.
The establishment of the penal colony had devastating consequences for the Indigenous Australians who had inhabited the continent for tens of thousands of years. The Indigenous population before European settlement is estimated to have been between 300,000 and 750,000 people. Between 1788 and 1900, their numbers declined drastically, with some estimates suggesting a reduction of up to 90%. This decline was attributed to several factors, including the loss of traditional territories, exposure to new diseases brought by the colonists, and violent conflicts with the settlers.
The early interactions between the colonists and the Indigenous people were marked by both cooperation and conflict. One notable instance of collaboration involved an Aboriginal man named Bennelong, who developed a friendship with Governor Phillip, learned English, and even travelled to England in 1792 to meet King George III. However, as the colony expanded, tensions escalated, leading to numerous clashes and massacres. The Indigenous people resisted the invasion of their lands, and in May 1788, two Europeans were killed near Rushcutters Bay in present-day Sydney. The Myall Creek Massacre, in which Europeans were tried and hanged for killing Indigenous people, stands out as a significant event, yet massacres continued into the 20th century.
In addition to convicts, the Australian colonies also attracted free migrants, particularly after 1831 when the British and Australian colonial governments began subsidising migration. This Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, also known as the Assisted Migration Scheme, encouraged skilled labourers and single women to migrate to Australia. While the scheme targeted specific profiles, it also contributed to a broader increase in European migration to Australia during the 19th century.
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Convict transportation ended in Western Australia in 1868
The first documented landing on Australia by a European was in March 1606. The Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon, in the ship "Little Dove", landed on the western side of Cape York Peninsula. However, he thought he was mapping part of New Guinea. Europeans had long believed there was a land mass in the southern hemisphere, which they called "Terra Australis Incognita", meaning "Unknown South Land".
The arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 marked the start of the European colonisation of Australia and the mass immigration that followed. The first migrants were mostly convicts—778 of them, to be precise. Over the next 80 years, about 160,000 convicts were sent to Australia, mainly to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania).
Convict transportation to Western Australia ended in 1868, with the arrival of the convict ship Hougoumont at the port of Fremantle on 9 or 10 January. This marked the end of 80 years of continuous penal transportation to the Australian continent. Between 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 convicts were transported to Australia onboard 806 ships. Most were transported for petty crimes, particularly theft.
The end of convict transportation was a significant moment in Australian history. It signified a shift away from the country's past as a penal colony and towards a future as a free settlement. The cessation of transportation also reflected the growing opposition to the convict system within the colonies, which had intensified throughout the 19th century.
Following the end of convict transportation, Australia continued to experience immigration from Europe and other parts of the world. The gold rushes of the 1850s and 1880s attracted many British and other European migrants, who often brought their young families with them. Large numbers of Chinese migrants also arrived during these periods, though they tended to be isolated into ethnic settlements within major cities.
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The Australian gold rush encouraged European migration and settlement
The first documented landing on Australia by a European was in March 1606. The Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon landed on the western side of Cape York Peninsula and charted about 300 km of coastline. However, the first European migration to Australia began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet, marking the start of European colonisation and mass immigration. Over the next 80 years, about 160,000 convicts were sent to Australia, most of whom stayed in the country after serving their sentences.
The Australian gold rush, which began in 1851, further encouraged European migration and settlement. The discovery of gold in New South Wales drew miners, known as diggers, from around the world, significantly expanding Australia's population and boosting its economy. The gold rush also led to the emergence of a unique national identity, with new ideas of democracy and equality brought by immigrants from Europe and the United States.
The gold rushes in New South Wales and later in Queensland transformed the colonies, leading to the development of rural areas and the establishment of new towns. The influx of free immigrants during this period changed the convict colonies into more progressive cities. Many of the European migrants, particularly the British, stayed in Australia after the gold rush, bringing their young families and contributing to the growth of local communities.
The increasing presence of Chinese prospectors during the gold rush era sparked strong anti-Chinese sentiment among European colonists, who resented the economic competition. This led to racially-fuelled riots and government restrictions on Chinese immigration. Despite these tensions, the gold rush played a significant role in shaping Australia's population and society, with European migration and settlement being a defining aspect of this transformative period in Australian history.
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Frequently asked questions
Europeans first arrived in Australia in 1606, when Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon landed on the western side of Cape York Peninsula.
Europeans had long believed there was a land mass in the southern hemisphere, which they called Terra Australis Incognita, meaning Unknown South Land.
The arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 marked the start of European colonisation in Australia.
The first European settlers in Australia were convicts. Over the next 80 years, about 160,000 convicts were sent to Australia, mainly to New South Wales and Tasmania.
The consequences of colonisation on Indigenous Australians were devastating. It is estimated that between 1788 and 1900, their population declined by as much as 90%. This was due to loss of traditional territory, exposure to new diseases, and violent conflict with colonists.
