1788 in Australia

Leaders

Admiral Arthur Phillip, first governor of New South Wales.

January 26 - The First Fleet lands in Port Jackson, Australia from Portsmouth, England, and establishes the English penal colony of New South Wales - the first European settlement in Australia.
February 7 - The colony of New South Wales is formally proclaimed. Phillip is sworn in as Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief.
March 6 - Philip Gidley King is sent from the Port Jackson colony to settle Norfolk Island with a party of fifteen convicts and seven men.
April 15 - Phillip explores northwards to Manly, and sights the Blue Mountains.
May 29 - Two convicts are killed by Aboriginals at Rushcutter's Bay
October - Due to poor conditions, scurvy breaks out. Phillip orders strict rationing and sends HMS Sirius to Cape Town for supplies.
November - A second settlement is established at Rose Hill, which will later become Parramatta.

The first white child in Australia is born on the 26th of January to marine Sergeant Thomas Whittle and his wife.