Overview
After the war, a large immigration programme drew people from across Europe, the population surged, and society diversified. The economy grew on mining and trade, and living standards rose.
Key developments
The 1967 referendum voted overwhelmingly to count Indigenous people in the census, and by 1973 the White Australia Policy was fully dismantled. Immigration widened to Asia and the whole world.
End and transition
The 1992 Mabo decision recognised Indigenous land rights (native title), and in 2008 the government formally apologised for past policies. As a multicultural nation, Australia has deepened its ties to the Asia-Pacific region.