Britain begins to colonise Australia

A smallpox epidemic kills 2000 Aboriginal people

Land auctions begin to replace free land grants

Gold is discovered in New South Wales and Victoria

Victoria restricts immigration of Chinese people

Men gain the vote in South Australia

Selector Acts are passed in Australian colonies

Women gain the vote in South Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander segregation legislation is passed in Queensland

Australia's states are joined in a federation

White women across Australia gain the vote, but Indigenous people are excluded

Last convicts are pardoned