Australia's history goes back thousands of years, starting with its indigenous people, the Aboriginal people, who lived on the continent for at least 65,000 years before European explorers arrived. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were the original inhabitants of Australia. They had a rich culture, varied languages ββand lived in harmony with the land. Each region had its own unique communities, traditions and art forms.
James Cook, a British explorer, claimed the east coast of Australia for Britain in 1770. In 1788, the First Fleet, under Captain Arthur Phillip, arrived in Botany Bay, marking the beginning of European colonization of Australia. Sydney was founded as a penal colony for convicted criminals.
After World War II, Australia began an active immigration policy, aimed at attracting people from different parts of the world. This led to a multicultural society.