This is the story of the origins of all Australians — of the people who have immigrated to this continent to make it what it is today.

From the very first immigrants more than 40 000 years ago to those who arrived in recent years, we follow the people who came from around the world to make Australia their home and examine the pressures that led to their moves. There are details of each country and its relationship with Australia, as well as a brief national history, to put the immigration patterns into context.

Here are the moves that people made that created modern Australia and gave it the character that makes this nation unique.