Since Captain Cook and the first fleet arrived in Australia, we have been populated by the British. They claimed the land which was once occupied by the Aboriginal Natives. There after, thousands have migrated from other countries to start a life here. The impact of these settlings was probably the most culturally affecting change on Australia’s history.

By this I mean that Aboriginals were brought from their tribal and simplistic ways in the complex and advanced society of the new occupants. The culture of the Aboriginals was constantly threatened as they would need to discard many of their beliefs to cope with proven foreign knowledge. What made it even worse was that eventually, as disgust for the dark natives grew, some of their ways were forbidden. They would be unable to practice what they had been taught for centuries.

The impact of this changes are varied. In places such as arid outback were few white people ventured, Aboriginals could do as they once did with comfort. Places such as Sydney where the largest number of British settled brought the greatest number of changes to both the land and the people. 

Some of the impacts to the Aboriginals as a result of the White people settling are:

   A wave of European epidemic diseases such as chickenpox, smallpox, influenza and measles

   The loss of resources which they needed to survive

   The loss of land which was needed for farming and living (the settlers viewed the aborgianls as nomads who could be driven off the land)

   The introduction of alchohol to the Aboriginals who had little tolerance towards the substance

   The loss of a great number of pure bred aboriginals. The last Tasmanian pure bread aboriginal died in 1876

   The death of thousands upon thousands of Aboriginals as a result of the slaughters and massacres

The effects of settling are only one of many changes in Australia. The timeline bellow illustrates a list of changes in Australia’s history from the time it was visited by the British. I have taken it from the website: http://www.clickforaustralia.com/History.htm

1770: Captain James Cook lands on the more hospitable east coast of Australia and claims it for Britain.

1804: Hobart Town is established in Van Diemens Land which is now known as Tasmania.

1833: Port Arthur opens as a penal settlement in Tasmania.

1851: The gold rush begins near Bathurst in New South Wales.

1853: The last convicts are shipped to Tasmania.

1868: The last convicts are transported to Australia.

1873: Ayers Rock is first sighted by Europeans.

1876: The last full blooded Tasmanian aboriginal, Truganini, dies.

1901: The Commonwealth of Australia becomes a reality.

1914-1918: Australian troops fight in World War 1.

1920: QANTAS is formed as a local airline.

1923: Vegemite is first produced.

1927: The first Federal Parliament is held in Canberra.

1932: Sydney Harbour Bridge opens.

1933: Western Australia produces a referendum for secession from England but it is rejected by Parliament.

1939-1945: Australian troops fight in World War 2.

1948: The first all Australian car is produced-the Holden.

1956: Melbourne hosts the Olympics.

1965: Australian troops sent to the Vietnam War.

1971: Neville Bonner becomes the first Aboriginal to be a Member of Parliament.

1973: The Sydney Opera House opens.

1981: Asian immigration increases.

1983: Australia wins the America's Cup.

1988: Bicentenary: The new Parliament House opens in Canberra.

2000: The Sydney Olympics held.