Timeline
World events on the left. Family births and deaths on the right.
Industrial Revolution era (Britain-led)
key eventGLOBAL • economy
Cook charts Australia’s east coast (British claim)
AU • settlement
US Declaration of Independence
GLOBAL • politics
Convict transportation from Britain and Ireland to Australia
key eventAU • migration
Over 160,000 convicts were transported to Australian colonies.
First Fleet establishes settlement at Sydney Cove
key eventAU • settlement
French Revolution begins
key eventGLOBAL • politics
Napoleonic Wars
key eventGLOBAL • war
UK abolishes the slave trade
UK • rights
Early British migration to New Zealand begins
NZ • migration
Missionaries, traders, and settlers arrive before formal annexation.
Wellington
Tralee, Kerry, Ireland
Great Hampden, Buckinghamshire, England
Great Reform Act (electoral reform)
UK • politics
Slavery Abolition Act passed
UK • rights
Clonmet, Norfinn, Tipperary, Ireland
Organised British migration to New Zealand
key eventNZ • migration
Te Tiriti o Waitangi signed
key eventNZ • politics
Great Irish Famine
key eventGLOBAL • disaster
Mass starvation caused large-scale emigration to Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.
New Zealand Wars (main phase)
NZ • war
Australian gold rush era
AU • economy
London, England
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Miners migrate from Australia to Otago (Lawrence area)
key eventNZ • migration
Thousands crossed from Victoria following the Gabriel’s Gully discovery near Lawrence.
New Zealand gold rushes (Otago & West Coast)
key eventNZ • economy
NZ women gain the vote
key eventNZ • rights
Commonwealth of Australia proclaimed
key eventAU • politics
New Zealand becomes a Dominion
NZ • politics
World War I
key eventGLOBAL • war
Wellington
1918 influenza pandemic
key eventGLOBAL • health
World War II
key eventGLOBAL • war
Alexandra Maternity Hospital, Lower Hutt
Knights Road Hospital, Lower Hutt
Cold War era
key eventGLOBAL • security
Internet becomes public and mainstream
key eventGLOBAL • tech
Sydney, Australia
Hutt Hospital
Rai Valley, Marlborough
Palmerston North
9/11 attacks
key eventGLOBAL • security
Global Financial Crisis
key eventGLOBAL • economy
COVID-19 pandemic
key eventGLOBAL • health
Generative AI breakout era
key eventGLOBAL • tech
Palmerston North, NZ
End of 2025 marker
GLOBAL • culture