TIME LINE

A Timeline of major events in Western Australia’s History

(including some events associated with the discovery and founding of other parts of Australia)

38,000 BC	The ancestors of the Aborigines probably arrive around this time. ⁽¹⁾.
	Sometime after the arrival of humans the mega fauna of Australia begins to become extinct.
18,000 BC	Onset of the last ice age which would enlarge the Australian mainland to the edge of the continental shelf.
4,000 BC	After the end of the ice age ocean levels reach their current levels and the Australian coastline we know today takes shape.
2,000 BC	Dingoes arrive from Indonesia, probably with fishermen from small coastal villages.
1420 AD	Maps by the Chinese Admiral Cheng Ho are reported to show part of the west coast of Australia but records are unable to confirm any landings
1525	Games de Sequeira is said to have mapped part of the north west but this is disputed.
1602	First likely landing – Portuguese.
1605	Pedro de Quiros coins the name ‘Austrialia’ and reported on 'Terra Australis'.
1606	First documented landing by Europeans in Australia – Dutch, William Janszoon. (Duyfken)
1611	Hendrik Brouwer pioneered a new route to the Dutch East Indies
1616	Dirk Hartog makes the first confirmed landing on West Australian soil. (Eendracht)
1618	Crew of Zeewolf first sights and records the North West Cape. Later that year the first landing is made there.
1619	Houtman discovers the Abrolhos Islands.
1622	The Leeuwin sails around the south west coast.
	The Trial is wrecked.
1627	Franz Thyssen charts part of the coastline. The land is named Nuytsland.
1629	Batavia wrecked on the Abrolhos Islands.
1642	Abel Tasman discovers VanDiemen's Land (Tasmania)
1644	Abel Tasman christens the country ‘New Holland’ and explores the north west coast.
1658	Samuel Volkersen makes the first landfall on Rottnest but does not name the island.
1688	William Dampier becomes the first Englishman to land on West Australian soil. (Cygnet)
1696	Willem de Vlamingh lands on Rottnest and explores and names the Swan River.
1699	Dampier's second voyage in the Roebuck.
1768	Cook's Endevaour voyage.
1772	St. Allouram lands on Hartog Island and claims the land for France when he visits Shark Bay (March 31st).
	Cook's Resolution voyage.
1779	Joseph Banks suggests founding a convict settlement at Botany Bay.
1786	Decision made to establish a settlement at Botany Bay.
1788	Sydney Colony established.
1791	George Vancouver lands near Albany and claims the land on behalf of Britain.
1792	D'Entrecasteaux's voyage.
1794	The name Australia is used by George Shaw and appears to be the first documented use.
1801	Mathew Flinders circumnavigates the continent - at quite a distance in some places. (Investigator)
	Baudin's voyage. (Geographe and Naturaliste)
1802	Baudin and Flinders meet at Encounter Bay.
1804	Mathew Flinders suggests that Australia be the name adopted for the country.
	Foundation of Hobart.
1818	DeFreycinet's expedition. (Uranie)
	P.P. King begins his voyages of exploration and becomes the first to circumnavigate the continent close to the coast.
1826	Edmund Lockyer arrives from NSW at Albany and establishes the first settlement in W.A. with troops and convicts
1827	Lockyer claims the land for Britain (January 21).
	James Stirling aboard the HMS Success surveys the Swan River with a view to settlement.
1828	Syndicate formed in London for colonisation of Swan River.
	Decision of British Government to found the new colony.
1829	Charles Fremantle lands near mouth of the Swan River and claims the land for Britain. (May 2)
	James Stirling officially proclaims the territory of Western Australia. (June 18)
	Perth is founded (August 12th.)
	Ensign Robert Dale leads the first exploration to the east of the. Darling Scarp. (October)
	First European child born in the new colony (Joseph Mitchell).
1830	First liquor licenses issued (Jan 1). (First official hangovers Jan 2).
	First marriage in the colony (James Knight and May A Smith on Jan 18).
	Experimental farm established at York (Feb 14.)
	Settlement at Augusta started by Turner, Molloy and Bussell party. (May)
	Swan River in flood May-June
	Colonial hospital opens (June 15.)
	Ensign Dale explores east of the Darling Scarp. (Sept.)
	First criminal conviction recorded (Oct 1.)
	Legislative Council established (Nov 1.)
	Thomas Bannister explores the country from Perth to Albany overland. (Dec 14.)
	Executive Council established.
1831	J.S. Roe leads an overland exploration to Albany.
	Convicts are withdrawn from Albany.
	Round House gaol at Fremantle is completed (Jan 18.)
	Frederickstown becomes Albany as W.A. takes over from N.S.W. (March 7.) - convicts withdrawn.
	Lt. Governor Stirling becomes Governor Stirling.
	Agricultural Society established. (May 28.)
	Yagan comes to the attention of the authorities by killing a settler near Melville Water. (Aug 1.)
	First newspaper established.
1832	Established governing bodies meet for the first time. (February 7.)
	Civil and criminal court system established.
	The colony's first (and last) duel is fought.
	First census is held. (July 1st.)
	Gov. Stirling returns to England to seek more support for the colony. (Aug 12.)
1833	Yagan is shot dead (July 11th.)
1834	Foundation Day (June 1.) declared a public holiday.
	Battle of Pinjarra.
	Colony exports its first wool shipment.
1835	The Lady Stirling (first ship built in the colony) is launched.
	J.S. Roe leads the Great Southern Expedition. (Oct-Dec).
	George Shenton has the South Perth flour mill constructed.
1836	First brewery established.
1837	Bank of Western Australia opens (June 1.)
	Stirling resigns as Governor. (Dec 31.)
	George Grey's first expedition.
	Colonies first brewery is established.
1839	John Hutt becomes the colony’s second Governor.
	Aboriginal prison established on Rottnest.
	The almost forgotten Lieutenant Lort Stokes explores a large part of the north coast of Australia.
1840	West Australian Company establishes a settlement at Australind.
1841	Eyre arrives in Albany after travelling overland from Adelaide.
	Causeway and bridge first spans the Swan River.
1842	Parkhurst boys transported.
	Master and Servant Act becomes law.
1843	Publicans Act banns Aborigines from being supplied with alcohol.
	First causeway opens over the Swan River and a toll is charged.
1844	John Gavin (aged 15) is the first white person hanged in W.A. (Parkhurst transportee.)
	First horses bred in the colony for use in India are shipped out.
1845	A.C. & F.T. Gregory's expedition.
1846	Andrew Clarke takes over as Governor.
	Coal is discovered.
	New Norcia Mission founded.
1847	Governor Clarke dies.
1848	Charles Fitzgerald takes over as Governor.
	First official census.
	Deposits of lead and copper discovered.
1849	Transportation of convicts approved.
1850	First convicts arrive (June 1) aboard the Scindian.
1851	Pearling industry starts operations.
1852	Direct mail service operates from Albany to Britain.
1854	Robert Austin’s expedition seen as a failure but he is the first to report likely gold in the Murchison. He is ignored by history.
	First postage stamps are introduced. Going against tradition W.A. issued stamps bearing the image of a black swan and not the reigning monarch.
1855	A. E. Kennedy appointed Governor.
	A.C. Gregory's expedition to Victoria River.
1856	Mathew Hale becomes the first Bishop of Perth.
	Perth is proclaimed a city by Queen Victoria. (Sep 23.)
1857	F.T. Gregory's expedition to Murchison and Gascoyne.
1858	A.C. Gregory's second expedition.
1861	F.T. Gregory's expedition to Nichol Bay.
1862	John Stephen Hampton appointed Governor.
1864-66	Charles Cooke Hunt opens up a trail to the goldfields and sinks wells but does not find gold.
	Roebuck Bay Pastoral Association, Camden Harbour Pastoral Association and Denison Plains Association all try to settle the north west.
1866	Bridge over the river at Fremantle opens. (Built by convicts.)
	C.C. Hunt's expedition to Hampton Plains.
1867	Elections held for Legislative Council.
1868	Transportation of convicts from England ends. Last ship Hougoumont arrives (Jan 10.)
1869	First telegraph line opens between Perth and Fremantle. (June) - one source says 1870.
	Frederick Weld appointed Governor.
	John Forrest leads an expedition from Perth to the Leonora area.
1870	Representative Government established. New constitution adopted.
	John Forrest leads the first expedition to cross Australia from west to east. (Mar 30-Aug 27.)
	Perth town hall opens (June 1st).
1871	First private railway in the state running on wooden rails. Western Australian Timber Co.
	Alexander Forrest leads an expedition from Perth to the goldfields and Esperance.
	Elementary Education Act passed.
	Districts Road Act is passed and 18 Road Boards are established. (3 more added by the end of the year).
1873	Ernest Giles' first expedition.
	Peter Warburton's expedition from Alice Springs to Perth.
1874	John Forrest leads an expedition from Geraldton to central Australia.
1875	Governor Robinson appointed.
	Ernest Giles' second expedition.
1876	Catalpa rescue.
1877	Telegraph connects Perth to Adelaide, Darwin and London. (Dec. 9th.)
	Governor Ord appointed.
	Aboriginal Protection Board established.
1879	First Government railway in the state constructed from Geraldton to Northampton.
	Alexander Forrest leads and expedition to the Kimberley.
	First edition of the West Australian newspaper.
	Secret ballot introduced for the election of Legislative Council.
1880	Governor Robinson appointed. (again)
	George Shenton becomes the first Mayor of Perth.
1881	Railway from Perth to Guildford completed.
1882	The age of consent for girls is raised from 10 to 14 years of age.
1883	Frederick Napier Broome appointed Governor.
1884	First workers union formed by Fremantle Society of Carpenters and Joiners.
1885	The first payable gold is discovered at Halls Creek.
	Federal Council Act passed.
	First Australiann rules football match played. (June 6th)
1886	Kimberley goldfield proclaimed.
1887	First telephone service introduced in Perth and Fremantle.
1888	Aborigines are denied the right to hold a miner's license.
	Yilgarn Goldfield proclaimed.
	Pilbara Goldfield proclaimed.
1889	Ernest Favec leads an expedition to the Gascoyne and Fortescue rivers.
	Great Southern Railway opens.
1890	Constitution proclaimed (October 21) John Forrest becomes the 1^st Premier (22nd December)
	Governor Robinson appointed. (third time)
	Imperial Act conferring Responsible Government passed.
1891	Parliament officially opens (January 20).
	Murchison Goldfield proclaimed.
1892	Married women gain the right to own property in their own right.
	Construction of Fremantle harbour begins.
	Coolgardie Goldfield discovered.
1893	John Forrest introduces the Homestead Act.
	Paddy Hannan finds gold at Kalgoorlie.
	Electricity becomes available in Perth city.
1891	First manned balloon flight takes place over Perth. (23rd March.)
1894	Agricultural Bank is established.
	All major mining centres are connected to Perth by telegraph.
	Midland railway opens.
	Menzies goldfield proclaimed.
1895	School attendance becomes compulsory.
	Government purchases Great Southern Railway.
1896	Great Southern Railway purchased by the Government.
1897	S.S. Sultan becomes the first steamer to use the new Fremantle harbour. (May.)
1898	First self propelled motor car imported.
	Coal discovered at Collie.
	Perth Zoo opens (Oct 17.)
	The Land Act divides the state into six divisions, Kimberley, North West (now Pilbara), Eastern (now Wheat belt and Goldfields), South West, Western (now Mid-West and Metro) and Eucla (now Great Southern).
1899	Women given the vote.
	Legislative Council becomes an elected instead of an appointed body.
	Free education in Government schools for 6-14 year olds.
	First electric tram operates in Perth (Hay St.)
	Perth Mint opens (June 21.)
	First contingent of troops leave W.A. for the Boer War. Nov. 7. 69 officers and 1168 other ranks eventually serve there.
	Truck Act. Employees had to be paid wages in cash not in goods.
	Kalgoorlie water pipeline begins construction.
1900	Electoral terms set at three years and members are paid a salary.
	Donald Mackay cycles round Australia.
	Referendum on federation.
	The age of consent for girls is raised from 14 to 16 years of age.
1901	Western Australia becomes part of the Commonwealth of Australia. (January 1st.)
	Lt. F. W. Bell becomes the first West Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross (Boer War).
	First federal elections (Mar 29.)
	F.S. Brockman leads an expedition from King Sound.
1902	Minimum wage is established by legislation.
1903	Goldfields water scheme is opened.
1905	First tram operates in Fremantle.
1907	Plural voting abolished.
1909	Compulsory national service instituted.
1911	First aero plane flight in Perth. Bristol Boxkite piloted by J.J. Hammond. (January 3rd.)
	University of W.A. begins construction.
1912	State shipping service commences.
1913	First wireless (radio) station opens in Applecross. (One source says 6WF started broadcasting June 4th 1924)
	University of W.A. commences operation.
	The first Australian bank notes are printed.
1914	Wesfarmers Co-op is formed.
	World War One begins.
	First successful Australian made aero plane flies at Coolgardie. (17 May.)
1916	First conscription referendum.
1917	Second conscription referendum.
1918	World War One ends. (November 11th.)
1919	Riots in Kalgoorlie.
1920	First trans-continental flight. Melbourne to Perth. DH4 piloted by F.S. Briggs (Landed in Perth December 2.)
1921	Edith Dicksey Cowan becomes the first female member of Parliament.
	Group settlement scheme begins.
	First airmail service established (December)
1926	Major flooding from the Swan River causes a railway bridge to collapse. (July).
1927	Aborigines banned from entering the centre of Perth. (Remains in force until 1948.)
1929	J.T. Franklin becomes the first Lord Mayor of Perth.
	Aero Club of Australia (W.A. Branch) later Royal Aero Club is incorporated.
	Interstate air services begin.
	Fremantle becomes a city. (June 3rd)
	New York stock exchange crash triggers the great depression. (Oct. 24.)
1930	First interstate phone service opens.
1933	W.A. votes to secede from the rest of the country.
1935	Flying Doctor service starts in W.A.
1939	World War Two begins. Australia declares war on Germany on (September 3rd.)
1942	North west towns bombed by Japanese planes.
1945	World War Two ends. (November 1st. )
1948	Aborigines recognised as Australian citizens.
1950	Australia embroiled in the Korean war.
	Petrol rationing ends in May.
1952	British atomic tests on the Monte Bello Islands.
1954	First Narrows bridge begins construction.
1955	Kwinana oil refinery opens.
1958	Tram services finish in Perth.
	Roe Street brothels closed after Government makes a ruling. (July)
1959	First television broadcast. (October 17^th.)
	Narrows bridge opens to traffic.
1962	Empire games held at Perry Lakes.
	Perth gets the name 'City of Light' as John Glenn passed over the city in his Mercury spacecraft.
	The Bendix G15 becomes the first functional computer to be installed in W.A. It was second hand and cost 21,000 pounds. It had just 7kb of memory.
	First direct jet flights to London begin.
1964	NASA builds a tracking station at Carnarvon.
	Eric Edgar Cooke becomes the last person hanged in W.A.
1966	Ord River project begins.
	USA builds a base at North West Cape.
	Decimal currency is introduced on (February 14th.)
1968	October 14^th – Meckering earthquake.
1969	Aboriginal workers gain the right to equal pay but are then driven off many stations.
1970	Standard gauge railway finally goes all the way to Sydney.
	First Test Match cricket game in Perth is played against England. (Dec 11-16)
1972	Aboriginal heritage Act finally gives legal protection to Aboriginal sacred sites.
1973	Voting age reduced to 18.
	First Avon Descent is held.
1975	First colour television broadcast.
1979	Perth to Fremantle railway line is CLOSED!
	Cadoux earthquake (June 2nd)
	150th anniversary of settlement is celebrated.
1983	Railway from Perth to Fremantle finally re-opened.
	W.A. wins the Americas Cup.
	Australia II wins the America's Cup.
1984	Death penalty removed from the statute books.
1985	Burswood casino opens.
1986	Perth International Airport opens.
1988	Burswood resort opens.
1992	Joondalup railway line is opened becoming the first new line opened in over 100 years.
2007	First female Lord Mayor of Perth is elected.

State boundaries

State	Boundaries finalised in
Western Australia	1831
Victoria	1851
Queensland	1859
New South Wales	1863
South Australia	1907
Northern Territory	1907
ACT	1911

Western Australia was founded after both Tasmania and New South Wales but its borders have remained the same since 1831. New South Wales once covered everything (except Tasmania) east of the W.A. border.

The map of Australian state borders that we see today was established in 1911.