Year 9 Humanities: Australian History
Aboriginal Australia
“The Biggest Estate on Earth”
Read and note
What are the four main ideas – not just the first 4!
Traditional Life
Read the info about traditional Aboriginal practices.
There are a number of videos on that page, but particularly watch the videos on fire and agriculture, and answer these questions in your Notebook:
Fire: What is cultural burning? What is hazard reduction burning? Why is cultural burning better?
Agriculture: What was the key message of the video? What is the benefit to Australia?
Follow the link to read and watch the video on Aquaculture.
In your Notebook:
- Take a screenshot of where Budj Bim (Lake Condah) is (use Google Maps, Satellite view)
- What does it mean to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
- Under what criteria has Budj Bim been recognised as a UNESCO WHS?
- What did you find interesting or new information about traditional Aboriginal life?
The extension of settlement including the effects of contact
Frontier Conflict
The labelling of the conflict which occurred between Aboriginal groups and white colonists/settlers/invaders is disputed (‘The History Wars’ of the early 21st century is something you might study in later years).
Whether it is classified as a ‘war’ or ‘conflict’ or something else, what is not disputed is that a level of violence occurred between old and new Australians.
A good starting point is ‘The Frontier Wars’ from NITV;
Read [at least]
– the Overview,
– the Black Wars of Tasmania, and
– Acts of Resistance
Watch ‘Moments in our History’ – especially up to the first break, for the impact this period in history has on current Aboriginal Australians: ‘resilience of the survival’, ‘disadvantage, deficit and loss’ ‘define ourselves in a way that is not chained to the past’, ‘about our strengths’, ‘not trapped in the trauma’, stories told by parents and grandparents – but also workers, soldiers, politicians and missionaries – ‘it’s a complex story’ [around 23:00-26:30]
Video: Moments in our History
The University of Newcastle has an ongoing project collating information on conflict and particularly massacres in Australia from 1788-1930.
Start with the Introduction, and then move onto the Map
On the map, click on the dots for information, then click ‘Full details’.
1829: Tasmania – Governor Arthur’s Proclamation Boards
‘The law applies equally to whites and blacks’
In 1838, the first white people were executed for a massacre perpetrated on Aboriginal people as outlined in Governor Arthur’s boards – but not in Tasmania, despite the ‘Black Wars’ of the 1830s, but in NSW following the Myall Creek massacre.
The experiences of non-Europeans in Australia prior to the 1900s
Chinese in NSW & Victoria (including goldfields)
– Chinese on NSW goldfields (Sydney Living Museum)
– Chinese on the Victorian goldfields (Culture Victoria)
– Goldfields as Australia’s first experience of multiculturalism – SBS
– Fear of the Chinese – SBS
Afghan Cameleers in South Australia
– An interesting article, from Australian Geographic. (Also links at end)
– The Afghan Camel Men – Flinders Ranges Research
– Afghan Cameleers: the forgotten Muslim heroes of Australia
Federation
We aren’t too cool for BTN in Year 9, are we?
Overview, from the Parliamentary Education Office
Profile of Australia at Federation
Life in Australia around 1900: Photo Analysis Task
Australian Electoral Commission resources:
The Referendums 1898-1900
First Commonwealth Parliament
Voting in the 1903 Election
Reasons FOR and AGAINST Federation
Using your own research, design a table outlining reasons For and Against Federation. You should include the views of key people, groups, and the priorities and concerns of each of the colonies.
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives on Federation
– http://www.criticalclassroom.com/australian-federation/
Aboriginal Voting Rights (Australian Electoral Commission)
There is often confusion over the right of Aboriginal people to vote. Using this timeline from the AEC, use an outline map of Australia to create an infographic on when Aboriginal people could vote in Australian elections.
Immigration Restriction Act
Teacher to show this ppt about the Immigration Restriction Act 1901
Always learning 