When did Australia become a country?

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cc_of_0z

Australia officially became a country on January 1, 1901 when the 6 former British colonies united to become a federation of states (and territories).

It did take time for Australia to throw off its ties to Britain. Australia gained control of her foreign affairs following world war 2 (along with Canada and New Zealand). The high court of Australia became the final court of appeal when Australia stopped allowing appeals the Privy council in London in 1984. This was the final legal tie to Britain. The Queen herself still has a largly ceremonial role in the nations affairs (conducted via her representaves, the Governor-General and the various state Governors, who are Australian citizens). Today's Australia is completely independent of the British government.

Note: 1788 was the anniversary year of the first European settlement in Australia, Sydney. This was not the date Australia became a country.

Nono24

well the land mass has always been here. we were discovered by Cook in 1770 and all the convicts from england were shipped over and everyone lived here. In 1901 the country was federated in where all of the states and territories became part of a larger govt that was nationwide and the first prime minister was Edmund Barton and he was elected at that time.

bashah1939

When the Constitution of Australia came into force, on 1 January 1901, the colonies collectively became states of the Commonwealth of Australia.

rugratshd

Regret the history books are all wrong about Captain Cook. A Dutch Captain called William Janez landed in 1601 and another Dutch Cpatain called Dirk Hatog made the second recorded landing in 1616. 160 years before Cook claimed Australia for the Queen and the UK. The first white folk to stay in Australia were 2 mutineers from the shp Batavia who were put ashore in 1629 near what is now Carnarvon in Western Australia. They were never heard of again. he first Englishman to land was William Dampier who landed in 1688, the town of Dampier in Western Australia is named after him

Steven

The six former countries of New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, merdged together to form the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901

Geoff L

1988 was our bicentenary so take 200 years off and you have 1788

cool gurl

a long time ago

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