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QUEENSLAND History
Queensland, Australia, was the residence of many Aborigine tribes as far back as 40 000 years ago, according to artefacts and archaeological evidence. Tales of their lives and customs were communicated through rock art to a lesser degree. However, most of the information was carried across generations by means of word-of-mouth tales, myths and legends. Conditions were difficult for the indigenous people. However, there is solid evidence that, tens of thousands of years ago, Queensland was cooler and wetter than it is today. Forests and wetlands characterised its landscapes. These tribes placed themselves around important water sources and cultivated the land for sustenance. There were many such Aboriginal societies in ancient Australia. They traded amongst 
Queenslands Flag In the 1600’s, Willem Jansz and Jan Carstens, explorers from Holland, spotted the coast of Queensland. Jansz made his journey in 1806, and Carstens followed him some 17 years later. However, it was Captain James Cook from England that first physically encountered the area in 1770.
The aim of establishing colonies in this area was to satisfy penal requirements. No longer would locals and settlers be free of legislated punishment, but crimes would now carry a legal consequence. In 1825, Brisbane was made the penal settlement for convicts, but was closed as such only 14 years later.
At first, Queensland was under the administration of New South Wales, which was, in turn, administered by England. However, as the population increased and the economy developed, the local population began to identify this area as their homeland, inciting a distinct level of pride and patriotism. Their identities were formed as a result, and they no longer viewed this as their home-away-from-home. Brisbane gained economic and social stability, becoming a vibrant destination. As such national pride and a growing sense of rightful ownership emerged, the need to grant Queensland independence from New South Wales emerged. Queen Victoria approved this movement towards independence in 1859 and Queensland became a self-governing colony. Its first governor was Sir George Ferguson Bowen.
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