Australia 1786.
Australia 1836.
Australia 1859.
Australia 1901.
Federation Timeline.
Constitutional Geography of Australia
1786
New South Wales
The political history of Australia commenced in 1784 when New South Wales was selected as a suitable place to receive transported convicts. NSW had authority over all New Holland east of the 135th meridian, including Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) and the adjacent Pacific Islands. The actual settlement was effected in 1788.
Norfolk Island was occupied in the same year. Penal settlements in Launceston and Hobart were established in 1804.
Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)
In 1825, the boundary of New South Wales was shifted farther west to the 129th degree east longitude (July 6, 1825), and Van Diemen's Land (officially renamed as Tasmania in 1855), was constituted a separate colony (Dec. 3, 1825).
Western Australia
(The Swan River Settlement)
Fear of French annexation led to the foundation in 1829 of the colony of Western Australia with its centre at Perth on the Swan River, and thus the whole of Australia was brought under the British Government.