Aboriginal History - Timelines and Events

The British claim that Australia belonged to no one, allowing for settlement.

Policies to protect Aboriginal Australians, often involving forced relocation.

The creation of the Commonwealth of Australia, where states governed Indigenous Peoples.

Rules aimed at preventing non-Europeans from migrating, impacting Indigenous Australians.

Policies aiming to integrate Indigenous Australians into the dominant culture, often forcefully.

Forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families, often by state actors.

Laws recognizing Indigenous ownership of ancestral lands.

Landmark court case that challenged the concept of Terra Nullius in Australia.

Thousands of Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families between the 1940s and early 1970s under the Assimilation Policy, with the aim of integrating them into the dominant culture.

A government policy in Australia during the 1900s that aimed to integrate Indigenous Australians into the dominant European culture, often forcefully.

Groups established by Indigenous Australians to voice their concerns, challenge government policies, and advocate for their rights.

A protest day marked by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples on January 26th, commemorating the loss of their land, culture, and spirit due to British settlement in 1788.

Indigenous men were divided on whether to enlist in WWII, but many served despite facing discrimination and lack of recognition as Australian citizens.

The Stolen Generations experienced a profound loss of family, culture, and identity, with lasting consequences for their well-being.

Despite the challenges faced, Indigenous communities demonstrated resilience and strength in maintaining their culture and advocating for their rights.

Comprehending the historical injustices faced by Indigenous Australians is crucial for recognizing their contributions and promoting reconciliation.

This law excluded Indigenous Australians, along with people from Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands (except New Zealand) from voting in national elections. It denied them a basic democratic right.

Beyond restricting immigration, the White Australia Policy reinforced the idea that Indigenous Australians were not considered real members of Australian society. It further marginalized them and reinforced discrimination.

While initially aimed at protecting worker wages from competition by Chinese immigrants, the main goal was to preserve a 'white' racial identity for Australia. This was based on a belief in racial superiority.

During the Great Depression, Indigenous Australians faced additional hardships beyond the general economic crisis. They lost welfare benefits, were forced back to reserves, and experienced increased child removals.

The Assimilation Policy aimed to force Indigenous Australians to abandon their own cultures and languages and adopt the way of life of white Australians. It was designed to 'absorb' Indigenous people into white society.

This policy encouraged government-enforced assimilation, especially impacting 'mixed blood' individuals living in settled areas. It was a system of cultural erasure.

The states and some organizations pressured the federal government to take an active role in Aboriginal affairs. In 1937, a nationwide assimilation policy was agreed upon.

During the 1940s, the assimilation policy was put into practice, encouraging Indigenous Australians to abandon traditional ways of life and adopt white Australian customs.

After World War II, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen received little recognition for their contribution, and were excluded from the Soldier Settlement Scheme, which provided land to returned servicemen.

In 1941-42, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples started receiving some Commonwealth benefits, like child endowment and pensions. They could also apply for state citizenship certificates, but this meant abandoning their communities and culture.

This Act declared all people born in Australia and former British subjects as Australian citizens, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. However, this didn't significantly improve their circumstances.

The federal government granted voting rights to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples who had served in the military or already had state voting rights, but this wasn't universal.

The assimilation policy, which aimed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to adopt British culture, was expanded to include non-British migrants, reflecting the changing social composition.

Over 250 Aboriginal workers in government departments in Darwin went on strike for better pay and working conditions, with support from the North Australian Workers' Union.

While Indigenous Australians gained legal citizenship, they continued to face inequities and restrictions, with state protection and welfare laws controlling their lives well into the 1970s.

It wasn't until the 1967 Referendum that all Indigenous Australians were officially counted in the census, highlighting the ongoing exclusion they faced.

A strike by Aboriginal stockmen on Wave Hill cattle station demanding equal pay and better working conditions. It highlighted the ongoing fight for Indigenous rights and fair treatment.

A referendum that amended the Australian Constitution to allow the federal government to make laws for Aboriginal people and to count them in the national census. This was a significant step towards recognizing Indigenous Australians as citizens with equal rights.

This council was a voice for Indigenous advocacy.

A government policy that aimed to assimilate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples into mainstream Australian society. While aiming for inclusion, it often overlooked the value of Indigenous culture and identity.

A federal government department established to address the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This marked a shift towards greater recognition and support for Indigenous communities.

A commission established to investigate ways to implement land rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It played a pivotal role in advancing Indigenous land rights.

A policy shift that emphasized the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to control their own affairs and make decisions for their communities. It empowered Indigenous people to determine their own destinies.

An international agreement that Australia signed in 1967, committing to eliminating all forms of racial discrimination. It was a significant step towards recognizing and upholding human rights for all.

A committee established by the Whitlam Government to provide a voice for Indigenous Australians and advise the government on their needs.

Recommendations from a Royal Commission into Aboriginal Land Rights that became the basis for the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.

Legislation passed by the Fraser Government that recognized and protected Indigenous land rights in the Northern Territory.

The legal doctrine that claimed Australia was 'empty land' belonging to no one before European settlement, which was challenged by the Mabo case.

A landmark High Court ruling in 1992 that recognized native title, acknowledging that Indigenous Australians had a pre-existing connection to their land.

A process aimed at improving relations between Indigenous Australians and the broader Australian community, initiated by Prime Minister Hawke.

A formal apology delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on February 13, 2008, addressing the wrongs of the past towards Indigenous Australians, particularly the Stolen Generations.

A major issue that highlighted the disproportionate number of Indigenous Australians dying in custody during the 1980s.