British Colization of Austalia

The continent was sighted by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman in 1642. In 1770, Capt. James Cook charted part of the coastline and claimed the eastern portion of Australia for Britain on his first voyage around the world. The annex was timely because Britain was looking for a replacement colony for the ones it lost after the American Revolution.The first colony was set up at Port Jackson, this colony later became the city of Sydney. Australia was only a penal colony because of the introduction of fine wool sheep and the opening up of the western plains of New South Wales.The discovery of gold in the 1850s, however, did lead to new settlement. During this time the native Aborigines suffered greatly and were treated like animals. During the depression Australia suffered only the western colonies were apred thanks to the discovery of gold. However the gold miners were imported from china and the jobs were taken away from the ex-convicts.
Australia was federated in 1901. The government had a senate and a house of representatives. The other powers were left to the states. Much like America. The government put into law the "White Australia" policy which the repatriation of Pacific Islanders employed in the Queensland sugarcane fields. It also established a common tariff policy. The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration in 1904 was created for industries. At the outbreak of World War I, Prime Minister William M. Hughes pledged full support to Britain.At home, wartime demands had led to the development of heavy industries in the eastern states. In spite of labor troubles, with an increase of lockouts and strikes, the immediate years after war were prosperous. High export prices for Australian wool, wheat, and meat supported large-scale public works and the absorption of 300,000 migrants into the work force.