Great Britain claimed the eastern half of Australia in 1770 and settled it in 1788.
After the European discovery of the continent by Dutch explorers in 1606 , Australia 's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788 .	Dutch	Dutch Republic	Great Britain	Kingdom of Great Britain	penal transportation	penal transportation	New South Wales	New South Wales
