lat. terra australis, continent, population >17.6 mio, capital: CanberraThe first European explorers, who sailed the coast of Australia, were the Portuguese Luis Vaes de Torres and the Dutch navigators Dirk Hartog, Van Diemen and Abel Tasman in the 16th century. Their first intention was to map the coastline and not to settle on that 'new-found land'. In 1770, Captain James Cook of the British Royal Navy and several scientists and botanists landed in Botany Bay, south of Sydney. They discovered amazing new plants and animals and found fertile land. After travelling further north James Cook claimed the east coast for the British Crown in the name of King George III. and named it New South Wales. In Queensland Cook made contact with the local Aborigines who lived there for over 60.000 years. The first settlers were prisoners. The British Government sent them to Australia firstly to get rid of their unwanted citizens and secondly to let them produce crops and supply materials for England. In 1788, 11 ships with 736 convicts led by Australia's first governor, Captain Arthur Phillips arrived in Port Jackson (now Sydney Harbour). Until 1852, when transportation ended, 160.000 people were brought to Australia of which only 3% were convicted of crimes of violence. Many of them chose to stay and settle in Australia after they had completed their sentences. In 1793 the first free settlers came. Most of them were lured by the promise of cheap land and convict labour. In the first years wool became one of the countries leading industries. In 1850 a flood of new immigrants came when the first gold and copper discoveries were made. As the population grew more and more and a sense of nationalism developed Australia was declared a commonwealth on January 1, 1901. Nowadays 70% of the population, of which are only 1.5% Aborigines, live in the 10 major cities.
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