FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Quiz about A Short History of Western Australia

A Short History of Western Australia Quiz

While Western Australia does not have a long history since European settlement, I believe it is an interesting one and would like to share it with you through this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by tezza1551. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
tezza1551

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
313,674

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
484

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 149 (9/10), PHILVV (10/10), Guest 1 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Approximately how long ago did the first human beings settle in Australia? Hint

200 years ago

10,000 years ago

1,000 years ago

40,000 - 60,000 years ago

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The British were not the first Europeans to have contact with Western Australia. What nationality were the first explorers? Hint

French

Portuguese

Dutch

Spaniards

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Where and when was the first permanent British settlement in Western Australia? Hint

King George Sound, 1827

Fremantle, 1829

Swan River Settlement, 1829

Perth, 1900

4. Unlike some of the eastern states of Australia, Western Australia was not originally a penal colony (that is, a colony for convicts). In what year did Western Australia start receiving convicts? Hint

1830

1880

1900

1850

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What happened in Western Australia in 1901? Hint

Nothing

Western Australia seceded from Australia

Western Australia became part of the Federation of Australia

Western Australia became a separate country

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In 1905, legislation was passed to allow the government greater control over indigenous people. What was the name of the Act which gave the government power to remove indigenous children from their parents in Western Australia? Hint

Indigenous Act

Care and Protection Act

Stolen Children Act

Aborigines Act

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In March 1921, a woman from Western Australia became the first woman elected to any Australian parliament. What was her name? Hint

Dame Enid Lyons

Edith Cowan

Dorothy Tangney

Carol Martin

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In 2008, the wreck of an Australian warship sunk in 1941 was located off the coast of Western Australia. What was the name of the ship? Hint

SMS Emden

HMAS Sydney

HMAS Perth

HMS Warspite

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In 1979 residents of the town of Esperance and residents in many other parts of Western Australia saw space debris fall to earth. What was the name of the space station that caused this? Hint

Spacelab

Sputnik

Labspace

Skylab

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. In 1990, with the resignation of Peter Dowding, Western Australia became the first state to have a female Premier anywhere in Australia. What was her name? Hint

Edith Cowan

Enid Lyons

Carmen Lawrence

Dorothy Tangney

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Mar 14 2024 : Guest 149: 9/10
Mar 10 2024 : PHILVV: 10/10
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 1: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Approximately how long ago did the first human beings settle in Australia?

Answer: 40,000 - 60,000 years ago

Anthropologists and archeologists estimate that the first Australians arrived around 50,000 years ago.

2. The British were not the first Europeans to have contact with Western Australia. What nationality were the first explorers?

Answer: Dutch

In 1616 Dirk Hartog, a Dutch explorer, sailed the west coast of the continent and landed north of Shark Bay. Hartog left a pewter plate which is now on display in a Dutch museum.
The first undisputed sighting of Australia by a European was made in early 1606 on the east coast of the continent by another Dutch vessel, Duyfken, captained by Willem Janszoon. He landed on the west coast of Cape York peninsula.

3. Where and when was the first permanent British settlement in Western Australia?

Answer: King George Sound, 1827

King George Sound (now Albany) was settled by a military detachment sent to prevent French settlement. Settlement at Swan River did not take place till two years later.

Answer: 1850

Almost 10,000 convicts were sent to Western Australia between 1850 and 1868, when transportation ceased. The convicts were guarded by ex British Army soldiers known as Enrolled Pensioner Guards. Many government and public buildings in Perth were built with convict labour.

5. What happened in Western Australia in 1901?

Answer: Western Australia became part of the Federation of Australia

In 1901, six states, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia united in Federation and became the Commonwealth of Australia.

Answer: Aborigines Act

The 1905 legislation had far reaching effects for indigenous people, both in Western Australia and in other states. The legislation allowed for a "Protector of Aborigines" who became guardian of every "aboriginal person" in the state aged under 16.

7. In March 1921, a woman from Western Australia became the first woman elected to any Australian parliament. What was her name?

Answer: Edith Cowan

Edith Cowan was elected to the Western Australian parliament and served there until 1924. She is commemorated in Western Australian history by having a university named after her. Dame Enid Lyons and Dorothy Tangney were the first women elected to Federal parliament - in 1943. Carol Martin was the first indigenous woman elected to any Australian parliament.

8. In 2008, the wreck of an Australian warship sunk in 1941 was located off the coast of Western Australia. What was the name of the ship?

Answer: HMAS Sydney

The HMAS Sydney was sunk by the German raider Kormoran in the Indian Ocean on 19th November 1941, with the loss of all 645 people on board.

9. In 1979 residents of the town of Esperance and residents in many other parts of Western Australia saw space debris fall to earth. What was the name of the space station that caused this?

Answer: Skylab

The debris falling from Skylab made magnificent viewing in the night sky on 11th July 1979. Skylab was in orbit between 1973 and 1979.

10. In 1990, with the resignation of Peter Dowding, Western Australia became the first state to have a female Premier anywhere in Australia. What was her name?

Answer: Carmen Lawrence

Carmen went on to be elected to the Federal Parliament in 1994, and later became the first woman president of the Australian Labour Party. She retired from politics in 2007.

Source: Author tezza1551

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.