<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The history of Australia from 1788--1850 covers the early colonial period of Australia's history, from the arrival in 1788 of the First Fleet of British ships at Sydney, New South Wales, who established the penal colony, the scientific exploration of the continent and later, establishment of other Australian colonies and the beginnings of representative democratic government . </P> <P> European colonisation created a new dominant society in Australia in place of the pre-existing population of Indigenous Australians, and socio - political debate continues in the 21st century as to whether the colonisation process should be described as settlement, invasion, or a mixture of both . </P>

Where did the british first settle in australia