<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 . European colonisation would have a devastating effect on the pre-existing population of Indigenous Australians , and debate continues in the 21st century as to whether the colonisation process represented settlement , invasion , or a mixture of both . </P>
<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 . European colonisation would have a devastating effect on the pre-existing population of Indigenous Australians , and debate continues in the 21st century as to whether the colonisation process represented settlement , invasion , or a mixture of both . </P>
when did the white settlers come to australia
when did the white settlers come to australia
1788
1788