1606 First recorded landing by Europeans, William Jansz, in Australia, on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula.
1770 April 29 - Captain James Cook first sets foot in New South Wales at Botany Bay.
1788 January 26 - Captain Arthur Phillip, commanding the First Fleet, sails into Port Jackson, establishes the first colonial settlement at Sydney Cove.
1801-03 Captain Matthew Flinders circumnavigates the Australian mainland, proving it is an island.
1824 Hume and Hovell open an overland route from Sydney to the future site of Melbourne.
1825 Van Diemen's Land (renamed Tasmania in 1855) established as a separate colony.
1829 Charles Fremantle lands on the south-west coast, later that year 70 settlers establish the colony of Western Australia.
1829-30 Charles Sturt explores the Murray River and paves the way for the founding of Adelaide in 1836.
1835 John Batman lands at the future site of Melbourne.
1851 Gold discovered in New South Wales and Victoria. Victoria gains separation from New South Wales.
1859 The colony of Queensland is created.
1860-61 Burke and Wills reach the Gulf of Carpentaria.
1868 Transportation of convicts to Australia ceases.
1898-99 The people of the future Commonwealth of Australia approve a constitution for the new nation.
1901 January 1, Federation.
Edmund Barton was the first Prime Minister.
The first Commonwealth Parliament met in Melbourne, the temporary seat of the Federal Government.
1915 April 25 - The Anzacs land at Gallipoli.ANZAC, Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, the soldiers from those countries who landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.
ANZAC Day, a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand, which honours those servicemen who lost their lives serving their respective countries.
1927 The federal capital is transferred from Melbourne to Canberra.
1930s Australia's economy slumps as the Great Depression takes hold.
1939 September 3 - Australia enters World War II.
1942 Japanese bombers attack Darwin, midget submarines enter Sydney Harbour.
1949 Sir Robert Menzies begins an 18-year term as Prime Minister.
1951 The ANZUS Treaty is signed by Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
1950-53 Australian troops take part in the Korean war, as part of the United Nations forces.
1964 Australia's first involvement in the Vietnam war.
1987 October 20 - 'Black Tuesday' on Australian stockmarkets.
1988 Australia celebrates 200 years of European settlement.