The history of Australia begins over 40,000 years ago, when according to studies, humans first arrived and settled here. Since then Australia has passed through several different periods, including the prehistoric, the aboriginal and the contemporary period which began in the 17th century, with the arrival of European expeditions first from Holland and later from Great Britain.

The prehistoric period began with the establishment of the first settlements in this land, and lasted until the arrival of the Dutch in 1606. During this era, the evolution of the island was centered on the Pacific coast. The Spanish also deserve a mention, and there are indications that they were in fact the first Europeans to land in Australia even before the Dutch. This belief originates in the discovery in Australia of Spanish army helmets dating from the 16th century.

There is some discussion also about the date of the first human settlements in this region, but it is clear that we are referring to between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago. The first ancestors of today’s Australian aboriginal people come from this era, and arrived from South East Asia before the definitive separation of the two continents.
Recorded history begins with the influx of Europeans in the 1600s. History states that the first man to arrive was the Dutch sailor Willem Janszoon, although as reported before, there is some evidence to suggest that the Spanish or even the Portuguese had been in Australia even earlier.

To sum up, between the XVIth and XVIIth centuries European settlers from Holland, Spain, Portugal and England arrived and settled in Australia. James Cook was a British sailor who was commissioned to map the zone, in particular the area on the east coast which he denominated New South Wales. The first official European settlement was here. Botany Bay was the first place to be populated, above all with prisoners from the UK, who were sent to the Australian continent after the loss of the British colonies in North America.

The first territories to be founded were Southern Australia in 1836, Victoria in 1851 and Queensland in 1859. At the time there was an indigenous aboriginal population of around 400,000 people, who were forced to witness their population decline due to infectious illnesses brought by the Europeans. As well as illnesses, the Europeans brought with them oppression and violence. The cultural values and beliefs of the aboriginals were trampled on, children were taken away from their families in an attempt to destabilize the culture, and what today would be qualified as genocide was exacted on the population.

Later came Gold Fever. In the early 20th century, to be specific in 1901, Australia declared its Independence from the British crown. Melbourne ceased to be the capital of the country in favour of Canberra in 1927, and Australia was born as a nation. In 1931 the last existing ties with the UK were cut, a move which was unpopular with the British, but which they had to accept after the arrival on the scene of the United States of America, who allied themselves with Australia.
Australia's growth continued over the second half of the 20th century. The first political parties were founded, such as the Liberal Party led by Robert Menzies who governed the country in the Post-War era.

Australia has carried on evolving and developing to become what it is today, an extensive land full of contrasts. From the outback to the coast, coastal cities and interior deserts- this is a country which holds a wealth of interest for tourists.