A SORRY HISTORY A Timeline of Australian Aboriginal history. Section One Dreamtime to Collated by John, Betty, Dick and Jane Unit Plan

It is believed that Aborigines have lived in Australia for between 55,000 and 110,00 years BC Earliest visible evidence of Aboriginal belief connected with the Rainbow Serpent. This becomes the longest continuing religious belief in the world BC

Trade with Asia - Dutch documents record trade between Macassan (Indonesian) sailors and Aborigines living on the northern coast of Australia AD 1788 The first fleet arrives from England. The aboriginal population at this time has been estimated to be between 300,000 and 1,000,000.

'Black Wars.' As the European settlers moved further inland aboriginals are killed in wars. Sometimes they fight back, other times they kill settlers. Some massacres have been recorded: 1820’s Bathurst – 100 dead 1837 – Gravesend - 200dead 1838 – Waterloo Creek – dead Long Lagoon – 100 dead 1841 – Rufus River – 30 dead 1820’s 1830’s Throughout the 1830’s settlement spreads throughout the country including Victoria and South Australia. No treaties are struck with the traditional inhabitants. British rule of law established.

1850’s Introduction of the policy of removing Aboriginal children is practiced. This policy continued right up until the 1970’s. These children were lost to their families, with no information on where they were taken. Many children in missions and other institutions badly treated.

References Latrobe University Library, “Aboriginal Histories, Australian Histories, and the Law” 1996/RosHunter.html Duffy Resource Centre, Trinity College, Western Australia. “Reconciliation in Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the rest of the Australian community.” Nunn, Judy. Territory. City: Milson’s Point, N.S.W. : Random House Australia, Baillie, Alan. Song Man. Melbourne: Penguin, Papunya School. Papunya School Book of Country and History. Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 2001.

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