Australia’s Early History

Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering how Australia got it’s name? Well, my class have been doing a little bit of research about it . . .

Mathew Flinders was the sailor who came up with the name Australia. It came from the Latin term ‘Terra Australis Ignota’ which means ‘Unknown Southern Land’.

Modern Australia began as a big prison for all of England’s Convicts. When people found gold in some parts of Australia, people from all over the world came by ship to strike rich. Unfortunately, most people didn’t find gold, but they still had to pay 30 shillings for a gold license. How unfair! Even if you weren’t digging, panning or mining, you still had to pay the fine if you didn’t have a license.

Miners and diggers everywhere around Ballarat didn’t want to pay for a licence, so they held a meeting by Bakery Hill. They burnt their licenses, elected a leader, (Peter Lorla), and built a fence around an area and raised the Eureka Flag. This was called the Eureka Stockade.

Lots of diggers died, and only 6 troopers were killed or injured. The Eureka Stockade led to Federation around 50 years later, when Australia became one nation.

This is Australia’s Early History . . .

Do you have any other facts about Australia’s Early History?