It was also thought prudent to use the prisoners as labourers to help begin settle the area to determine if it was fit to be developed. In 1788, the first fleet of ships arrived at the penal colony with both prisoners and officers who would oversee the development of the new outpost. Altogether about 160,000 men and women were brought here from 1788 to 1868. During this time, free immigrants also made their way to Australia as they were attracted to the wool trade and the gold rushes. Nevertheless, the Commonwealth of Australia was founded in 1901, with a federation of six states with its own constitution. Soon after, Australia’s agricultural and manufacturing industries began to develop rapidly and help speed up the progress of the country. But in 1914, as a result of WWI, many men loss their lives and the economy became unstable see great social divides. The great depression of the 1930s made things worse for Australia it was only after WWII that the country started to recover. During WWII, Australia made a great contribution to the Allied victory in Europe as well as in Asia and the Pacific. Since then, the country has not looked back. Australia today is a vibrant bustling cosmopolitan nation that attracts millions of overseas investors and even more tourists every year. | 
