Australia
 

26 Jan 1788 - 3 Sep 1901	1 Jan 1901 - 3 Sep 1901 (Semi-official)	3 Sep 1901 - 4 Jun 1903
4 Jun 1903 - 19 Dec 1908	Adopted 19 Dec 1908	19 Dec 1908 - 14 Apr 1954 Civil Ensign

Map of Australia Hear National Anthem   "Advance Australia Fair" Adopted 19 Apr 1984 (lyrics modified 1 Jan 2021) Royal Anthem "God Save the King" ("God Save the Queen" 1952-2022)  (national anthem: 1 Jan 1901-19 Apr 1984) Constitution (1 Jan 1901) Capital: Canberra (1901-1927 Melbourne) Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD); Australian Pound (AUP) 1909-1966 National Holidays: 26 Jan (1788)  Australia Day ------------------------------------ 25 April (1915) ANZAC Day Population: 26,768,598 (2024) GDP: $1.6 trillion (2024)  Exports: $425.2 billion (2024) Imports: $405.3 billion (2024) Ethnic Groups: English 33%, Australian 29.9%, Irish 9.5%, Scottish 8.6%, Chinese 5.5%, Italian 4.4%, German 4%, Indian 3.1%, Australian Aboriginal 2.9%, Greek 1.7%, unspecified 4.7% (2021) note: data represent self-identified ancestry, with the option of reporting two ancestries Total Active Armed Forces: 58,540 (2024) U.S. Forces: 315 (2025) Merchant marine: 604 ships (2023) Religions: Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant 18.1% (Anglican 9.8%, Uniting Church 2.6%, Presbyterian and Reformed 1.6%, Baptist 1.4%, Pentecostal 1%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 3.5%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 2.7%, Buddhist 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3% (Eastern Orthodox 2.1%, Oriental Orthodox 0.2%), other 2.1%, none 38.4%, unspecified 7.3% (2021) International Organizations/Treaties: ADB, AfDB (applicant), AG, AIIB, ANT (consultative), ANZUS, APA (observer), APEC, APM, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), AUKUS (signatory), BIS, BTWC, C, CCM, CD, CP, CPTPP, CTBT, CWC, EAS, EBRD, ECSR, EITI, ENMOD, FAO, FATF, G-7 (guest), G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IORA, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, Moon, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO (global partner), NEA, NPT, NSG, NTBT, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), OST, PA (observer), Paris Club, PC, PCA, PIF, RCEP, SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNRWA, UPU, WA, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Australia Index Chronology 26 Feb 1606                Sighted by Dutch Capt. Willem Janszoon (b. c.1530                              - d. c.1570) aboard Duyfken lands at Cape York,                              which he named New Zeeland (Nieu Zeelandt). 31 Jul 1618                Janszoon (s.a.) lands again, this time at North West                              Cape. 1644                       Dutch Capt. Abel Janszoon Tasman (b. 1609 - d. 1659)                              mapped the north coast of Australia which was then                              known as New Holland (Nieuw-Holland).  6 May 1770                "Eastern coast of New Holland" claimed for the U.K.                              by Capt. James Cook (b. 1728 - d. 1799), he names                              it New Wales, but revised it to New South Wales. 20 Jan 1788                British "First Fleet" arrives at Botany Bay. 26 Jan 1788                New South Wales, the first British colony in                               Australia is founded (see Australian states).  1 Jan 1901                Commonwealth of Australia (uniting the colonies of                              New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia,                              Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia [which                              is added after a 31 Jul 1900 referendum]; by U.K.                              "Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act" of                              reviving royal assent 9 Jul 1900 and royal                              proclamation of 19 Sep 1900). 11 Dec 1931                Statute of Westminster grants sovereignty to the                              British dominions, but Australian ratification                              is required.  9 Oct 1942                Legislative independence of Australia from the                              U.K. is achieved upon the adoption of provisions                              of the Statute of Westminster 1931 (retroactively                              effective from 3 Sep 1939) by the "Statute of                              Westminster Adoption Act 1942."  3 Mar 1986                Australia Act (1986) ends the last vestigial links                              with the U.K., enabling the repatriation of the                              Australian constitution to Australia.  6 Nov 1999                Referendum on adopting a republican form of                               government is rejected (54.8% No vs. 45.1% Yes).  Australian States Ashmore and Cartier Islands Coral Sea Islands Heard and McDonald Islands Australian Antarctic Territory Historical Maps of Australia

Kings/Queens¹
 1 Jan 1901 -              the Kings/Queens of the United Kingdom
Governors-general² (representing the British monarch as head of state)
 1 Jan 1901 -  9 Jan 1903  John Adrian Louis Hope, Earl of    (b. 1860 - d. 1908)
                             Hopetoun, Viscount Althrie, Lord Hope,
                             Baron Hopetoun, of Hopetoun in the
                             County of Linlithgow, Baron Niddry,
                             of Niddry Castle in the County of
                             Linlithgow, Baronet of Kirkliston,
                             Nova Scotia, (from 27 Oct 1902,
                             Marquess of Linlithgow, in the
                             County of Linlithgow or West Lothian) 
17 Jul 1902 - 21 Jan 1904  Hallam Tennyson, Baron Tennyson,   (b. 1852 - d. 1928)
                             of Aldworth, in the County of
                             Sussex, and of Freshwater, in
                             the Isle of Wight
                             (acting to 9 Jan 1903)
21 Jan 1904 -  9 Sep 1908  Sir Henry Stafford Northcote, Baron(b. 1846 - d. 1911)
                             Northcote, of the City and County
                             of the City of Exeter
 9 Sep 1908 - 31 Jul 1911  William Humble Ward, Earl of       (b. 1867 - d. 1932)
                             Dudley, Viscount Ednam, of Ednam
                             in the County of Roxburgh, Baron
                             Ward, of Birmingham in the County
                             of Warwick 
31 Jul 1911 - 18 May 1914  Thomas Denman, Baron Denman, of    (b. 1874 - d. 1954)
                             Dovedale, in the County of
                             Derbyshire
18 May 1914 -  6 Oct 1920  Sir Ronald Craufurd Munro-Ferguson (b. 1860 - d. 1934)
 6 Oct 1920 -  8 Oct 1925  Henry William Forster, Baron       (b. 1866 - d. 1936)
                             Forster, of Lepe, in the County
                             of Southampton
 8 Oct 1925 - 22 Jan 1931  John Lawrence Baird, Baron         (b. 1874 - d. 1941)
                             Stonehaven, of Ury in the County
                             of Kincardine
 3 Oct 1930 - 22 Jan 1931  Arthur Herbert Tennyson Somers-    (b. 1887 - d. 1944)
                             Cocks, Baron Somers
                             (administrator, acting for Baron Stonehaven)     
22 Jan 1931 - 23 Jan 1936  Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs            (b. 1855 - d. 1948)
23 Jan 1936 - 30 Jan 1945  Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-     (b. 1872 - d. 1955)
                             Ruthven, Baron Gowrie, of Canberra
                             in the Commonwealth of Australia
                             and of Dirleton in the County of 
                             East Lothian (from 8 Jan 1945, Earl
                             of Gowrie, Viscount Ruthven of Canberra,
                             of Dirleton, in the County of East
                             Lothian)
 8 Sep 1944 - 30 Jan 1945  Sir Winston Dugan (1st time)       (b. 1877 - d. 1951)
                             (administrator, acting for Baron Gowrie)
30 Jan 1945 - 11 Mar 1947  Prince Henry William Frederick     (b. 1900 - d. 1974)
                             Albert, Duke of Gloucester, Earl
                             of Ulster, Baron Culloden
19 Jan 1947 - 11 Mar 1947  Sir Winston Dugan (2nd time)       (s.a.)
                             (administrator, acting for Prince Henry)
11 Mar 1947 -  8 May 1953  William John McKell                (b. 1891 - d. 1985)
                             (from 9 Nov 1951, Sir William John McKell) 
 8 May 1953 -  2 Feb 1960  Sir William Joseph Slim            (b. 1891 - d. 1970)
 2 Feb 1960 -  3 Feb 1961  William Shepherd Morrison,         (b. 1893 - d. 1961)
                             Viscount Dunrossil of Vallaquie, 
                             of Vallaquie in the Isle of North
                             Uist and County of Inverness
 4 Feb 1961 -  3 Aug 1961  Sir Reginald Alexander Dallas      (b. 1896 - d. 1966)
                             Brooks (administrator acting)
 3 Aug 1961 - 22 Sep 1965  William Philip Sidney, Viscount    (b. 1909 - d. 1991)
                             De L'Isle, of Penshurst in the
                             County of Kent, Baron De L'Isle
                             and Dudley, Baronet, of Penshurst,
                             Kent
 7 May 1965 - 22 Sep 1965  Sir Henry Abel Smith               (b. 1900 - d. 1993)
                             (administrator, acting for Viscount De L'Isle)
22 Sep 1965 - 30 Apr 1969  Richard Gardiner Casey, Baron      (b. 1890 - d. 1976)
                             Casey, of Berwick in the State
                             of State of Victoria and Commonwealth
                             of Australia and of the City of Westminster 
30 Apr 1969 - 11 Jul 1974  Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck (b. 1905 - d. 1993)
11 Jul 1974 -  8 Dec 1977  Sir John Robert Kerr               (b. 1914 - d. 1991)
 8 Dec 1977 - 29 Jul 1982  Sir Zelman Cowen                   (b. 1919 - d. 2011)
29 Jul 1982 - 16 Feb 1989  Sir Ninian Martin Stephen          (b. 1923 - d. 2017)
16 Feb 1989 - 16 Feb 1996  William "Bill" George Hayden       (b. 1933 - d. 2023)
16 Feb 1996 - 29 Jun 2001  Sir William Patrick Deane          (b. 1931)
29 Jun 2001 - 29 May 2003  Peter John Hollingworth            (b. 1935 - d. 2026)
15 May 2003 - 11 Aug 2003  Sir Guy Stephen Montague Green     (b. 1937 - d. 2025)
                             (administrator acting [for Hollingworth to 28 May 2003])
11 Aug 2003 -  5 Sep 2008  Philip Michael Jeffery             (b. 1937 - d. 2020)
 5 Sep 2008 - 28 Mar 2014  Quentin Alice Louise Bryce (f)     (b. 1942)
                             (from 25 Mar 2014, Dame Quentin Alice Louise Bryce)
28 Mar 2014 -  1 Jul 2019  Sir Peter John Cosgrove            (b. 1947)
 1 Jul 2019 -  1 Jul 2024  David John Hurley                  (b. 1953)
 1 Jul 2024 -              Samantha "Sam" Joy Mostyn (f)      (b. 1965)

 
Prime ministers
 1 Jan 1901 - 24 Sep 1903  Edmund Barton                      (b. 1849 - d. 1920)  PP
                             (from 26 Jun 1902, Sir Edmund Barton) 
24 Sep 1903 - 26 Apr 1904  Alfred Deakin (1st time)           (b. 1856 - d. 1919)  PP
26 Apr 1904 - 18 Aug 1904  John Christian Watson              (b. 1867 - d. 1941)  ALP
18 Aug 1904 -  5 Jul 1905  George Houston Reid                (b. 1845 - d. 1918)  FT
 5 Jul 1905 - 13 Nov 1908  Alfred Deakin (2nd time)           (s.a.)               PP
13 Nov 1908 -  2 Jun 1909  Andrew Fisher (1st time)           (b. 1862 - d. 1928)  ALP
 2 Jun 1909 - 29 Apr 1910  Alfred Deakin (3rd time)           (s.a.)               PP
29 Apr 1910 - 24 Apr 1913  Andrew Fisher (2nd time)           (s.a.)               ALP
24 Apr 1913 - 17 Sep 1914  Joseph Cook                        (b. 1860 - d. 1947)  LP
17 Sep 1914 - 27 Oct 1915  Andrew Fisher (3rd time)           (s.a.)               ALP
27 Oct 1915 -  9 Feb 1923  William Morris Hughes              (b. 1864 - d. 1952)  ALP;
                                                       14 Nov 1916 NLP; 17 Feb 1917 NP
 9 Feb 1923 - 22 Oct 1929  Stanley Melbourne Bruce            (b. 1883 - d. 1967)  NP
22 Oct 1929 -  6 Jan 1932  James Henry Scullin                (b. 1867 - d. 1953)  ALP
 6 Jan 1932 -  7 Apr 1939  Joseph Aloysius Lyons              (b. 1879 - d. 1939)  UAP
 7 Apr 1939 - 26 Apr 1939  Sir Earle Page (acting)            (b. 1880 - d. 1961)  ACP
26 Apr 1939 - 29 Aug 1941  Robert Gordon Menzies (1st time)   (b. 1894 - d. 1978)  LP
29 Aug 1941 -  7 Oct 1941  Arthur William Fadden              (b. 1895 - d. 1973)  ACP
 7 Oct 1941 -  6 Jul 1945  John Joseph Ambrose Curtin         (b. 1885 - d. 1945)  ALP
 6 Jul 1945 - 13 Jul 1945  Francis Michael Forde              (b. 1890 - d. 1983)  ALP
13 Jul 1945 - 19 Dec 1949  Joseph Benedict Chifley            (b. 1885 - d. 1951)  ALP
19 Dec 1949 - 22 Jan 1966  Robert Gordon Menzies (2nd time)   (s.a.)               LP
                             (from 29 Mar 1963, Sir Robert Gordon Menzies)
22 Jan 1966 - 17 Dec 1967  Harold Edward Holt                 (b. 1908 - d. 1967)  LP
18 Dec 1967 - 10 Jan 1968  John McEwen (acting)               (b. 1900 - d. 1980)  ACP
10 Jan 1968 - 10 Mar 1971  John Grey Gorton                   (b. 1911 - d. 2002)  LP
10 Mar 1971 -  5 Dec 1972  William "Billy" McMahon            (b. 1908 - d. 1988)  LP
 5 Dec 1972 - 11 Nov 1975  Edward Gough Whitlam               (b. 1916 - d. 2014)  ALP
11 Nov 1975 - 11 Mar 1983  John Malcolm Fraser                (b. 1930 - d. 2015)  LP
11 Mar 1983 - 20 Dec 1991  Robert James Lee Hawke             (b. 1929 - d. 2019)  ALP
20 Dec 1991 - 11 Mar 1996  Paul John Keating                  (b. 1944)            ALP
11 Mar 1996 -  3 Dec 2007  John Winston Howard                (b. 1939)            LP
 3 Dec 2007 - 24 Jun 2010  Kevin Michael Rudd (1st time)      (b. 1957)            ALP
24 Jun 2010 - 27 Jun 2013  Julia Eileen Gillard (f)           (b. 1961)            ALP
27 Jun 2013 - 18 Sep 2013  Kevin Michael Rudd (2nd time)      (s.a.)               ALP
18 Sep 2013 - 15 Sep 2015  Anthony "Tony" John Abbott         (b. 1957)            LP
15 Sep 2015 - 24 Aug 2018  Malcolm Bligh Turnbull             (b. 1954)            LP
24 Aug 2018 - 23 May 2022  Scott John Morrison                (b. 1968)            LP
23 May 2022 -              Anthony Norman Albanese            (b. 1963)            ALP

Aboriginal Flag 12 Jul 1971 14 Jul 1995 adopted as "a flag of Australia"

Torres Strait Islander Flag 29 May 1992 14 Jul 1995 adopted as "a flag of Australia"

 ¹The style of the ruler was:
(a) 1 Jan 1901 - 22 Jan 1901: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India";
(b) 22 Jan 1901 -  4 Nov 1901: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India";
(b) 4 Nov 1901 - 12 May 1927: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India";
(c) 12 May 1927 - 6 Feb 1952: "By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India"; the title "Emperor of India" was dropped as of 15 Aug 1947 by retroactive proclamation dated 22 Jun 1948;
(d) 6 Feb 1952 - 29 May 1953: "By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith";
(e) 29 May 1953 - 19 Oct 1973: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Australia and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith";
(f) 19 Oct 1973 - 8 Sep 2022: "By the Grace of God, Queen of Australia and her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth";
(f) from 8 Sep 2022: "By the Grace of God, King of Australia and his other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

 ²full title of the governors-general:
(a) 1 Jan 1901 - 3 Aug 1961: "Governor-general and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth of Australia";
(b) 3 Aug 1961 - 11 Jul 1974: "Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Commonwealth of Australia";
(c) 11 Jul 1974 - 24 Aug 1984: "Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force of the Commonwealth of Australia";
(d) from 24 Aug 1984: "Governor-general of the Commonwealth of Australia."

Territorial Disputes: Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory) since 1933, claim not recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia, or by most other countries (other than France, New Zealand, Norway and U.K.); All borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary.

Party abbreviations: ALP = Australian Labor Party (social-democratic, est.1901); LP = Liberal Party (center-right, UAP successor, est.1945, as Commonwealth Liberal Party 1909-1916);
- Former Parties: ACP = Australian Country Party (conservative, agrarian, in 1972 renamed National Country Party, 1920-1982, renamed National Party of Australia); FT = Free Trade Party (conservative, pro-free trade, from 1906 renamed Anti-Socialist Party, 1889-1909); NP = Nationalist Party (conservative, nationalist, 1917-1931, replaced by UAP); NLP = National Labor Party (center-left, Billy Hughes personalist, split from ALP, merged into NP, 17 Nov 1916-17 Feb 1917); PP = Protectionist Party (conservative, protectionist, 1889-1909); UAP = United Australia Party (center-right, NP successor, 1931-1945, replaced by LP)

 

Map of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Population: Uninhabited; there are seasonal caretakers (2021)

 5 Mar 1800                Capt. Thomas Nash (b. 1770 - d. 1830) in the ship Cartier passes a
                             dry sand-bank, presumably the one that later comes to be called
                             Cartier Island, before running aground the following day on
                             another shoal.
11 Jun 1811                Capt. Samuel Ashmore (b. 1787 - d. 1858) aboard the brig Hibernia
                             discovers the Ashmore Islands, initially referred to as Ashmore
                             Shoal.
mid-19th cent.             Guano deposits on Ashmore, found by American whalers, are mined.
1876                       The HMS Barracouta visits the islands.
1877 - 1878                A Dutch attempt to assert sovereignty over Ashmore is withdrawn,
                             apparently because of imminent British claims.
Dec 1878                   The United Kingdom takes formal possession of the Ashmore Islands,
                             after some dispute over their ownership with the United States.
                             Lt. William Tooker of the Airlie finds an American and two
                             men in possession, but no objection is made to the hoisting of
                             the British flag.
16 May 1909                Cartier Island is annexed for U.K. when a landing is effected by
                             HMS Fantome under Commander Fred Pasco (b. 1863 - d. 1955).
23 Jul 1931                Ashmore and Cartier Islands placed under the authority of the
                             Australia, to be effective on such date, after the passage of an
                             acceptance act by Australia by imperial order-in-council.
15 Dec 1933                Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933 is assented to.
                             Proclamations are subsequently issued to make the transfer.
10 May 1934                Transfer of sovereignty effective by the Ashmore and Cartier
                             Islands Acceptance Act 1933 (Ashmore and Cartier Islands
                             Territory).
10 May 1934 - 19 Jul 1938  Administered by Western Australia.
19 Jul 1938 - 30 Jun 1978  Annexed to the Northern Territory.
 7 Nov 1974                Australia–Indonesia Memorandum of Understanding regarding the
                             Operations of Indonesian Traditional Fishermen in Areas of the
                             Australian Fishing Zone and Continental Shelf - 1974.
 1 Jul 1978                Ashmore and Cartier Islands Territory.
16 Aug 1983                Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Natural Reserve established.
16 Dec 1985                Laws of the Northern Territory extended to Ashmore and Cartier by
                             an amendment to the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act.
21 Jun 2000                Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve established.
 8 Sep 2001                Ashmore and Cartier Islands are excised from Australia's migration
                             zone, precluding unauthorized arrivals on Ashmore Reef from
                             pursuing residency in the country.
17 Nov 2012                Ashmore and Cartier reserves are renamed Ashmore Reef Commonwealth
                             Marine Reserve and Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve,
                             respectively, with both forming part of the Northwest Commonwealth
                             Marine Reserves Network.
11 Jul 2018                The Federal Circuit Court of Australia rules that the excision of
                             Ashmore and Cartier Islands from Australia's migration zone, was
                             invalid.
26 Oct 2022                Indonesian tourism minister Sandiaga Uno claims Ashmore (Pulau Pasir
                             in Indonesian) belong to Indonesia, endorsing claims by
                             indigenous leaders who have threatened to challenge Canberra in
                             Australian court. However, soon after Uno's statement the
                             Indonesian Foreign Ministry confirms recognition of Australia's
                             ownership.

Territorial Dispute: As the closest Australian territory to Indonesia, these islands became the target of human traffickers for the landing of illegal immigrants; in Sep 2001, the Australian government removed these islands from the Australian Migration Zone making illegal arrivals ineligible for temporary visas and entry into Australia. Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef (Pulau Pasir); Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island, access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport.

 

Map of Coral Sea Islands

Population: No Indigenous Inhabitants; a staff of 4 operates the meteorological station on Willis Islan (2021)

20 Jul 1788                British Lt. John Shortland (b. 1739 - d. 1803) discovers Middleton
                             Reef, named in honor of Adm. Sir Charles Theodore Middleton (b.
                             1726 - d. 1813).
19th cent.                 Many ships are wrecked in the Coral Sea area as a result of
                             constantly shifting sand cays and many of the reefs and islands
                             are named after the ships which foundered.
17 Aug 1803                The Cato and Porpoise, shortly after having discovered Cato Island,
                             are wrecked on a reef, Wreck Reef is named.
1812                       Frederick Reef is discovered by the Frederick by Capt. Joseph
                             Savigny.
16 May 1820                Elizabeth Reef is assumed to have been by that of ships Claudine and
                             Marquis of Hastings, which reported the existence of a reef to
                             the south of Middleton Reef by Capt. John Welsh.
1821                       Captain Tregrosse of the French ship Les Trois Frères discovers the
                             Tregrosse Islets.
1844                       The Osprey Shoal is discovered.
1854 - 1860                HMS Herald visits many of the islands. Beacons are erected on Cato
                             Island in 1854, Mellish Reef in 1859, and on Frederick Reef and
                             Kenn Reef in 1860. Further scientific expeditions to the region
                             follow, and many specimens of flora and fauna come to be housed in
                             Australian herbariums and museums.
1860s - 1880s              The islands are briefly exploited for guano but subsequently
                             abandoned.
1876                       Malay Reef is discovered by the barque Malay.
1884                       The Diamond Islets are discovered by HMS Diamond under Capt. Dale.
29 Oct 1900                Letters patent purport to include within the boundaries of New South
                             Wales all islands off the eastern coast of Australia that are not
                             within the boundaries of Queensland, up to longitude 154° E.
1921                       A meteorological station with a few staffers begins service on
                             Willis Island. The remaining islands remain uninhabited.
1967                       Extensive surveying begins to be undertaken by the Australian
                             Department of National Development.
16 Aug 1968                The U.K. government advises that it does not "claim any right or
                             interest in [the islands] which is inconsistent with the exercise
                             over them by the Australian government of effective government.
30 Sep 1969                Coral Sea Islands Territory established, formerly part of 
                             Queensland (the northwest group includes: Flinders Reefs,
                             Herald Cays, Holmes Reefs, Coringa Islets, Lihou Reef and Cays,
                             Magdelaine Cays, Moore Reefs, Bougainville Reef, Osprey Reef,
                             Marion Reef, the Willis Group, et al.; the southeasterly group
                             includes: Frederick Reefs, Saumarez Reefs, Wreck Reef, Kenn Reef,
                             Swain Reefs, West Island, Bird Islet, and Cato Island); The
                             islands, cays and reefs of the Great Barrier Reef are not part of
                             the territory, belonging to Queensland instead; administered from
                             Canberra.
19 Oct 1973                An ordinance specifies that the laws of the Australian Capital
                             Territory, so far as applicable, shall be applied to the Coral
                             Sea Islands Territory.
16 Aug 1982                The Lihou Reef and Coringa-Herald national nature reserves declared.
25 Jun 1984                The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1984 is
                             assented to, by which the boundaries of the territory are amended,
                             the eastern boundary being set at 156°06' E.
11 Dec 1987                Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs are declared a Marine National Nature
                             Reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act.
 7 Jul 1997                Elizabeth Reef and Middleton Reef (nearly 800 km further south)
                             transferred from New South Wales to the Coral Sea Islands
                             Territory.
17 Nov 2012                Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve established, covering an area
                             that included the former Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve and
                             Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve (covering 989,842 sq km and
                             encompassing the former Coral Sea Conservation Zone and Lihou Reef
                             and Coringa-Herald national nature reserves).
 9 Oct 2017                The Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve is renamed Coral Sea
                             Marine Park.

Territorial Disputes: None; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport.