Australia was settled by humans 42,000-48,000 years ago, encountering megafauna that later became extinct. Europeans arrived in the 17th century, and British colonization began in 1788. Indigenous peoples suffered mistreatment and disease, and traditional land ownership was not recognized until 1992. The colonies became independent and united as a federation in 1901. Today, Australia is a thriving democracy with a diverse population and a high per capita GDP.
Australia was first settled by humans between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago. Early colonization of the continent is notable because other members of the Homo genus, such as Homo habilis, reached as far as Southeast Asian islands, such as Java, from Africa, but not as far as Australia, which would have required crossing oceans on a boat.
When the first humans arrived in the area, they encountered many megafauna, including hippopotamus-sized marsupials, giant kangaroos, the marsupial lion and a 7-metre lizard, Megalania prisca. Shortly after humans arrived, all of these megafauna became extinct. The only remaining megafauna are kangaroos, emus, cassowary, saltwater crocodile, carpet python and goanna lizard.
From a European perspective, Australia was first sighted by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606. Throughout the 17th century, the north and west coasts were mapped by the Dutch, but they made no attempt at colonization. In the 17th, navigator James Cook mapped the east coast and claimed parts of it for his own country, Great Britain. This area, New South Wales, includes present-day Sydney.
British colonization of the continent began when Port Jackson was founded by Captain Arthur Phillip on 26 January 1788. Today, 26 January is celebrated by Australians as Australia Day. An island south of Australia, Tasmania, was colonized shortly later, in 1803 and became a separate colony in 1825. Tasmania began as a penal colony, but this practice was discontinued in 1848. Throughout the 19th century, further colonies were established around the world. continent: South Australia in 19, Victoria in 1836 and Queensland in 1851.
The indigenous population of the area at the time of settlement was estimated to be around 300,000, but many of these natives were killed off by imported disease and mistreatment by European settlers. Traditional ownership of land by Indigenous peoples was not recognized until 1992, and there continues to be racial tension between descendants of Europeans and Native Australians, although reconciliation is ongoing. The Australian government issued a formal apology to Indigenous people in 2008.
Between 1855 and 1890, the Australian colonies became independent entities under the British Crown and on 1 January 1901, the colonies all united as a federation. This created the Commonwealth of Australia as a Dominion of the British Empire. The 1931 Statute of Westminster made the country largely separate from the British Empire that founded it. Beginning in the 1970s, it welcomed immigrants from Europe and elsewhere, increasing the nation’s diversity. Today it is a thriving democracy, with a per capita GDP slightly higher than that of the UK, Germany and France.
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