Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area and the largest country in Oceania. The country is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east, with the Timor Sea and Arafura Sea to the north and the Southern Ocean to the south. Australia's geography is incredibly diverse, encompassing arid deserts, tropical rainforests, and mountain ranges.HistoryIndigenous PeoplesAustralia has a rich and complex history that dates back over 65,000 years with the arrival of the first Aboriginal Australians. These Indigenous peoples developed diverse cultures and languages, adapting to the varied landscapes and climates across the continent. They established intricate social systems, trade routes, and spiritual beliefs deeply connected to the land, which they refer to as the Dreamtime.European Exploration and ColonizationThe first recorded European sighting of Australia was in 1606 by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon. Throughout the 17th century, various Dutch explorers charted parts of the western and northern coastlines. However, it was the British who would eventually claim the land. In 1770, Captain James Cook charted the eastern coast and claimed it for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales.The first British colony was established at Port Jackson (now Sydney) on January 26, 1788, by Captain Arthur Phillip, who led the First Fleet of convicts. Over the following decades, additional colonies were established around the continent, often resulting in significant and devastating impacts on Indigenous communities due to disease, dispossession, and conflict.Federation and Modern DevelopmentPath to FederationThroughout the 19th century, the six separate British colonies developed their own distinct identities and systems of government. In the late 1800s, there was growing support for unifying these colonies into a single nation. This movement culminated in the federation of Australia on January 1, 1901, when the Commonwealth of Australia was formed, with Edmund Barton serving as the first Prime Minister.