IStory Because of overcrowding in the British jails, prisoners were sent to penal settlements in Australia On January 26, 1788(now celebrated as Australia D ay)----the First Fleet under Capt. Arthur Phillip landed at Sydney, ●Cap Beginning in 1793, free settlers began Northern Territory arriving Alice springs Queenland New South Wales 1788: Tasmania wertern 1825: Western Australia. 1830: South South Australia. 1836: Victoria. 1851: and Australia New South Perthe Queensland, 1859 Adelaide waler rher in May 1901--First federal Parliament opened at Melbourne Melb Tasmania In May 1927, the seat of government transferred to Canberra on October 9, 1942 Australia passed the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act, which officially established Australia's complete autonomyHistory ◼ Because of overcrowding in the British jails, prisoners were sent to penal settlements in Australia ◼ On January 26, 1788 (now celebrated as Australia Day)----the First Fleet under Capt. Arthur Phillip landed at Sydney, ◼ Beginning in 1793, free settlers began arriving. ◼ New South Wales, 1788; Tasmania, 1825; Western Australia, 1830; South Australia, 1836; Victoria, 1851; and Queensland, 1859. ◼ in May 1901--First federal Parliament opened at Melbourne ◼ In May 1927, the seat of government transferred to Canberra ◼ on October 9, 1942 Australia passed the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act, which officially established Australia's complete autonomy