AUSTRALIA HISTORY

Prior to European establishment, the Aborigines solely occupied Australia. More than 1,800 generations have lived in Australia. Thousands of years later it was the British explorer James Cook, who is to be credited with bringing Australia to the rest of the world. It was after his discovery that Britain began colonizing Australia by shipping its first inhabitants- convicted murders, thieves and political prisoners to Botany Bay in Sydney

In the beginning of 1981, the discovery of gold at Bathurst in New South Wales, transformed Australia economically, politically and demographically, with the result nearly two percent of the population of Britain and Ireland and a large number of continental Europeans, North Americans and Chinese emigrated to NSW and Victoria during the 1850s. The rapid expansion that followed the gold rush produced a period of prosperity that lasted for about forty years. Melbourne grew rapidly and became Australia’s largest city and for a while the second-largest city in the British Empire.

The British’s original influence on Australia’s colonial origin has evolved into a multicultural society. Australia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, with more than 100 different ethnic groups representing it.

The name ‘Australia’ was first suggested by Matthew Flinders. At a meeting in 1899, the Premiers of the other colonies agreed to locate the New Federal capital of Australia in New South Wales. During the colonial period, 26 January was called Foundation Day in New South Wales. Western Australia celebrates Proclamation Day on 21 October each year. Since 1901, the landing of the First Fleet at Camp Cove has evolved from a small commemorative New South Wales holiday into a major national celebration, recognized as Australia Day.

Australia has been active in international affairs since World War II when it fought between the United States and other Allies. After the war Australia played a role in the Far Eastern Commission in Japan and supported Indonesian Independence during the country’s revolt against the Dutch. Australia was one of the founders of both United Nations and the South Pacific Commission.

Australian folklore, its traditions, customs and beliefs are based on both indigenous and also non-indigenous people’s knowledge and experience of history in Australia. Some of Australia’s folklore remembers the relationship between Europeans and Aboriginal people and is reflected in Australian language and writing.