When did the British arrive in Australia?

William Dampier was the first Englishman to explore and map parts of New Holland (Australia). On 4 January 1688, his ship the 'Cygnet' was beached on the northwest coast of Australia, at King Sound near Buccaneer Archipelago on the north-west coast of Australia.

The next English visitor was Lieutenant James Cook (not yet captain), who charted the eastern coast in 1770. Cook's positive report led to the colonisation of New South Wales by England in 1788.