Origins of Australia

Australia was inhabited by indigenous people for 40,000 years prior to European settlement in the late 18th century. These indigenous people were varied and altogether spoke more than 200 different languages.

Australia was initially discovered by the Dutch in 1606. The discovery is credited to Willem Janszoon, a Dutch navigator. In 1770, Britain laid claim to the eastern half of the continent. The colony of New South Wales was subsequently settled via penal transportation. Formal possession of the land was taken on January 26, 1788. Five more colonies were founded after decades of subsequent exploration, known as the self-governing Crown Colonies. These six colonies became a federation on January 1, 1901, thus forming the Commonwealth of Australia. The Commonwealth realm maintains a stable liberal democratic political system.

In 1770, an Englishman named James Cook sailed along and mapped New South Wales along the east coast of Australia, claiming the colony for Great Britain. This new British Crown Colony was used to establish a new penal colony, formed when Captain Arthur Phillip guided the First Fleet to Port Jackson on January 26, 1788. This day would later become Australia Day. The settlers of New South Wales successfully campaigned to end convict transportation to that colony. In 1848, the last convict ship arrived.

Australia is the flattest continent and has the least fertile soil. It is the driest inhabited continent, with a temperate climate located in only its southeast and southwest corners. That first penal colony formed by the prisoners and soldiers aboard the First Fleet suffered disease, drought and starvation due to the terrible quality of soil and climate. One prisoner in particular was determined to escape these conditions. Her name was Mary Bryant, and she successfully sailed with her children, husband and companions in a single boat from New South Wales to East Timor, a staggering distance even for a properly outfitted voyage undertaken by experienced sailors.

Infectious disease brought by the early British settlers caused a steep decline in the indigenous population for over a century following settlement. The "Stolen Generations" may have also contributed to this decline. This refers to the removal of Aboriginal children from their families. However, this interpretation of Aboriginal history has been disputed, and the debate is known as the "History wars".

Australia joined Britain in fighting World War I in 1914, and its soldiers took part in many battles fought on the Western Front. Many Australians regard their soldiers' defeat at Gallipoli as the birth of their nation, taking place during its first military action.

Despite its humble beginnings, Australia is now the world's thirteenth largest economy. It has a population of more than 22 million inhabitants, commonly referred to as Aussies, with its population centered around the mainland state capitals. These include Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. Australia has an exceptionally low population density.

Noteworthy Australian actors include Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett, and Hugh Jackman.

Sources:

"Australia", Wikipedia