Topic

Australian History

2 facts

  • Cocos Islands93 views

    A Private Family Once Ruled Cocos Islands for 150 Years

    The Clunies-Ross family, descendants of Scottish merchant John Clunies-Ross, effectively governed the islands as their private fiefdom from 1827 until their eventual sale to Australia in 1978. They were known as the 'Kings of Cocos'.

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  • Australia94 views

    Australia Was Originally Established As A Penal Colony

    In 1788, the First Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove, establishing a British penal colony. Over the next 80 years, approximately 162,000 convicts were transported to Australia, fundamentally shaping its early development, society, and demographics.

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