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Indigenous History stretches from arrival on the Australian continent about 50-60 000 years ago to the present. Archaeology is relied on for early history. The oral tradition, Indigenous beliefs and cultural disruption, as with many other indigenous peoples, has not ensured their history being maintained fully and/or publicly to the present day. Much of the other available information from the first European settlement on has not been from the Indigenous perspective. A shift in this process has only increased to any significant extent over recent decades.
This page provides links to information and resources for units and topics covered in this subject at a range of Australian universities. It does not attempt to include all these. Be aware some units/topics have different titles in different universities, even though content may be the same or similar. Australian information is supplied wherever possible.
They are at undergraduate level and listed in alphabetical groupings for ease of access. Some information may be useful at a higher level.
In addition, there are journals, search engines, databases, primary documents, reference material and other general information where these are seen to be relevant.
Additional material will be included as time permits.
This page requires continued development. This will be done as time permits through the addition of further topics and a strengthening of those that already exist.
If you are aware of any worthwhile information which is not included, suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given every consideration.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following may contain images and voices of deceased persons.
Archaeology
Archaeology & Anthropology
- Aboriginal Heritage Office
‘A joint initiative by Lane Cove, Manly, North Sydney, Warringah and Willoughby councils, to protect Aboriginal Heritage in these areas.’ [‘There are over 1 000 sites of Aboriginal culture and heritage in these areas ?’] - Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System
‘Database and recording cards for all Aboriginal objects, Aboriginal places and other Aboriginal heritage values in NSW that have been reported to the NPWS. Database index of archaeological reports, a library of these reports.’ - Ausanthrop : Anthropology in Aboriginal Australia
‘Dedicated to research and resources in anthropology. Special accent is on Aboriginal Australia, and more specifically on the Aborigines of the Western Desert’. Tribal Database, Kinship Tutorial in particular. - Australia’s Oldest Human Remains
Lake Mungo, southern New South Wales. - Australian Stone Tools
- Dating the Colonisation of Sahul
Pleistocene Australia-New Guinea. A ‘review of recent research’. Authors, abstract, Fee-based PDF download. - Dharawal People of New South Wales
Rock carving, stone structures, rock shelters. - Dinnertime at Cuddie Springs
Hunting and Butchering Megafauna ? ‘Report prepared for the Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council December, 1996.’ - Early Human Occupation at Devil’s Lair
Southwestern Australia 50 000 Years Ago. Authors, abstract, Fee-based PDF download. - Revealing The Prehistoric Settlement of Australia
By Y chromosome and mtDNA analysis.What this data implies. PDF document. - The History of Aboriginal Australia
Who, When, How, From Where - Evidence for the Australian Colonisation. Article on the use of mitochondrial data to clarify dates for colonisation. Links to other studies [see Specific Studies section for these]. - The Human Colonisation of Australia
Optical Dates of 53 000 and 60 000 years bracket human arrival at Deaf Adder Gorge, Northern Territory. Authors, abstract, Fee-based PDF download. - Using Bush Plants
‘Investigates traditional Aboriginal use of Australia’s native plants. Available as a Self-guided activity or Explainer-led activity.’
History
Documentation
Documents, databases, journals, reports, texts, other written formats.
- Aboriginal History
‘Aboriginal History Inc is a publishing organisation based in Canberra, Australia. It publishes the annual refereed journal Aboriginal History and a monograph series.’ - Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements
‘Links together current information, historical detail, published material relating to agreements made between Indigenous people and others in Australia and overseas.’ Database format.
General Information
Portals, databases, further information.
- Aboriginal History [WWWVL]
Aborigines, their time on this continent. Believed to be about 60 000 years. - Australian Centre for Indigenous History
ANU. Research, projects, publications, links, more. - Interactive Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia
MacquarieNet Online Reference Library. Fee-based, but quite cheap. Provides for layers of very specific information to be overlaid on a map of Australia. Multiple options, help. - Mission Voices. Koorie Heritage Trust
‘Unique culture and history of Victorian Aboriginal [Koorie] people. Hear our Elders tell of their lives on missions.’ - Prehistory of Australia
‘The period between the first human habitation of the Australian continent and the first definitive sighting of Australia by Europeans in 1606, which may be taken as the beginning of the recent history of Australia.’ From Wikipedia. - SBS - The First Australians
‘Chronicles the birth of contemporary Australia as never told before, from the perspective of its first people. Explores what unfolds when the oldest living culture in the world is overrun by the world’s greatest empire. Over seven episodes, depicts the true stories of individuals - both black and white - caught in an epic drama of friendship, revenge, loss and victory in Australia’s most transformative period of history.’ Watch episodes online, download podcasts. - The Koori History Website
‘More than 3 500 pages. A comprehensive collection of images from koori history’. Maintained by Gary Foley. Not updated for a while. - White Australia has a Black History
Sources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in the National Library of Australia]. Article embedded links to the collection, other information.
Specific Groups
History of specific Aboriginal groups in different parts of Australia.
- Adnyamathanha History
‘It is difficult to generalise about Aboriginal people, their cultures and their histories. To help explain this, we have included a detailed timeline of one particular group - the Adnyamathanha people of the Flinders Ranges in southern Australia, from the time of white invasion.’ In time periods. Now in the Pandora Archive. - Eora : Aboriginal Sydney
Several pages, some interactive, on the Eora people. State Library of NSW.
Timelines
- Aboriginal History Timeline
Part of an Aboriginal cultural site. - Draft Time Line
Legal Developments Affecting Indigenous People. Access the timeline, timeline resources. - Timeline of Aboriginal Resistance
Incidents of Aboriginal resistance to white settlement. - Timeline of Indigenous Australia
Done in Western Australia. The latter section is strongly oriented to WA. - Timeline of Significant Moments …
In the Indigenous Struggle in south east Australia. Covers 1925 to 1992. - Indigenous Australia Timeline
Australian Museum. This is the Pre-contact section. Other sections also available by using the Index browser at the bottom.
Modern History
In addition to the information here, check for items listed in the Specific Events section below. Emphasis is on the years since 1950.
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
- The Aboriginal ‘Embassy’
Summary, links, images. - The Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Information, chronology of events, actions linked to it.
General Links
- Collaborating for Indigenous Rights 1957-1973
‘The fifteen years from the late 1950s to the early 1970s was a time of unusual collaboration between black and white activists in Australia. This site tells their stories.’ Emphasises Fights for Civil Rights, Land Rights. - Electoral Milestone/Timetable for Indigenous Australians
Chronological, annotated listing from the Australian Electoral Commission. Current to 2008. - Indigenous Law Resources
Search by title, year, agency/author. - Indigenous Settlements of Australia
Report by ‘Dr Paul Memmott and Mark Moran [for the] Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2001.’ Extensive presentation, multiple parts. - Legal Information
Use this link for legal information including links to legal documentation, on the Indigenous Australia page. - Population Distribution
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Check other tabbed sections including Past & Future Releases. - Reconciliation
Use this link for information concerning reconciliation, groups and understandings, on the Indigenous Australia page. - Royal Commission on Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
National, regional, individual death reports, report on the Underlying Issues, summary. - The Australian Freedom Rides
US origins of the idea, the Sydney clash, Charles Perkins, Walgett, Moree, aftermath of the ride. First-hand accounts, short sound grabs.
Native Title & Land Rights
For the Mabo and Wik decisions, see the link in the Specific Events section.
- Aboriginal Australian Native Title
‘Keeps track of leading relevant University and Governmental information facilities.’ - Aboriginal Strike [Walk-off] at Wave Hill
‘The Wave Hill walk-off was well supported and made headlines all over Australia. While the initial strike was about wages and living conditions, it soon spread to the more fundamental issue about their traditional lands.’ - Central Land Council
‘Land use, land acquisition, mining, permits in central and south Northern Territory.’ - National Native Title Tribunal
The Tribunal, Native Title Applications, other information, publications, more.
Stolen Generations, The
- ‘Bringing Them Home’
The report on The Stolen Generations, completed in the 1990s. - Bringing Them Home Education Module
Developed by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and updated in 2007. One DVD copy free. - Calculating Lives …
The Numbers and Narratives of Forced Removals in Queensland 1859-1972. PhD thesis available online in PDF format, 3 parts. - Content of Apologies
State and Territory Parliaments. Listed online and as a Word version. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. See the national apology link in the Specific Events section. - Stolen Generations
Emergence of the removal policy, policy in practice, social impact, historical debates, public awareness and recognition, Australian Government apology, legal status, compensation, films, books, notable people, comparisons to similar countries, references, links. From Wikipedia. - Stolen Generations Alliance
Background, education kit, media, implementing Bringing Them Home, speeches, links, media. - The Stolen Generations
Article by Robert Manne.
Specific Events
1967 Referendum
- 1967 Referendum
‘The National Film and Sound Archive is pleased to present a selection of material relating to the landmark referendum of 1967.’ - Australian Referendum, 1967 [Aboriginals]
Background, campaign, legacy, changes to the text of the constitution, results, references, links. From Wikipedia. - Background Paper
The Origin of Commonwealth Involvement in Indigenous Affairs and the 1967 Referendum. Australian Parliamentary Library. - Collaborating for Indigenous Rights
National Museum of Australia. About the 1967 Referendum. Check the page on Earlier attempts to change the Constitution. - Fact sheet 150, The 1967 Referendum
National Archives. Information, further sources, links to records particularly from governments sources. Check Constitutional Alteration [Aboriginals] Act 1967. Use the link in the green box at the bottom for an online, digital copy of the document.
Mabo
- Beginner’s Guide to Land Rights
NIT Fact Sheet. One fact sheet, from the National Indigenous Times, about this topic. - Conceptualising Native Title
PDF article, Sydney Law Review. - High Court Decision on Mabo
- Mabo : Ten Years On
Chronology, what has happened. - Mabo : Ten Years On [2]
Another document looking at this. - Native Title Applications
National Overview, prepared by AIATSIS. Covers applications stemming from the Mabo and Wik decisions. - Native Title - A Simple Guide
Delves into the Mabo legal case, issues it raises for indigenous people and other Australians. - The Australian History of Henry Reynolds
Article about the suggested impact of Henry Reynolds on court decisions relating to the Mabo Judgement of 1992. - The Mabo Judgement and Its Implication
Massacres
A number occurred from settlement through to the 1930s. Links to specific massacres and general listings are provided.
- Coniston Station Massacre
Last known massacre of Aboriginal people in 1928. Details, what followed - the Board of Inquiry, effects on local groups, its significance. Links, related information. From Wikipedia. - Convincing Ground
Extract from a report of a massacre in Victoria. - Fighting Hills Massacre, 1840
Massacre occuring north of Coleraine. - Gippsland Massacres
Listing with details, embedded links. From Wikipedia. - List of Massacres of Indigenous Australians
Lists massacres in time periods, short descriptions, links. From Wikipedia. - Myall Creek Massacre
The massacre, the trials that followed, consequences. ‘The first time that white people had been punished under British law for crimes against Aboriginal people.’ From Wikipedia. - Myall Creek, Our Shared History
‘We are a group of volunteers, indigenous and non-indigenous, committed to seeing the Myall Creek massacre remembered both for the tragedy that it was and for the turning point it marked in the long road of reconciliation.’ Resources, information.
National Government Apology
The apology issued on behalf of the Federal Government on 13 February 2008.
- Apology to the Stolen Generations
‘The 42nd Parliament of Australia opened on February 13, 2008, with a Welcome to Country speech by The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Kevin Rudd, MP. Mr Rudd then moved a motion in the Federal Parliament offering an apology to Australia’s Indigenous people.’ Links to background, media releases, speeches, broadcasts. - Rudd Delivers Apology
Online video in several formats. Australian Broadcasting Commission.
Wik Decision
- An Overview Of The Wik Decision
Article, University of New South Wales Law Journal. - Land and Sea Rights
‘The Wik case concerned land which is, or has been, subject to pastoral leases.’ Northern Land Council. - Wik - What do we Do Now ?
‘What Australia does about Wik and how it does it will be an important mark of our maturity as a nation. In this presentation I want to canvass some possible responses to the decision as options for consideration by all the stakeholders.’ Article by Justice French.