Australian Continent

In 1770, Captain Cook in HMS Endeavour sighted the Australian Continent at Point Hicks and proceeding north explored and charted the whole of the east coast to Cape York, the north extremity of the continent. The Union Jack was hoisted on Possession Island in Endeavour Strait, on 23rd August 1770, and took possession of the north and east coasts of Australia in the name of King George III. The Union Jack was hoisted in Botany Bay in April 1770, and the first British colony was established in Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, on 7th February 1788.