Australian History Explained for the Citizenship Test

The First Peoples Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on this continent for at least 65,000 years, making theirs the world's oldest continuing cultures. They are recognised as the traditional custodians of the land.

European arrival and colonisation In 1770 Lieutenant James Cook claimed the east coast for Britain. The First Fleet arrived in 1788 to establish a convict settlement at Sydney Cove. Over the next century, six separate British colonies developed across the continent.

Federation: one nation, 1 January 1901 On 1 January 1901, the six colonies joined to form the Commonwealth of Australia. This is why 1 January is one of the most important dates in Australian history.

A modern, multicultural nation After World War II, Australia welcomed millions of migrants from Europe, then from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific. Today nearly half the population was born overseas or has a parent who was — multiculturalism is a defining feature of modern Australia.