1. History of Australia

2. First Inhabitants
Aborigines – Original inhabitants that settled the land 50,000 years ago
Longest occupancy of any group in a single place
3% of population now
Many killed off by European diseases
STRONG connection to the land and family
Dreamtime
Oral History

3. Colonization British…1770 Place for criminals to live Mass migration
James Cook
Place for criminals to live
Prisons too overcrowded
Built roads/bridges
Developed the land
Mass migration
Cheap land/work (livestock)
“Squatters”
Ex-convicts, farmers
Gold

4. Isolation of Australia
13 million plant/animals species in world
1 million ONLY in Australia
Eucalyptus – tree that leaves fragrant oil used in many medicines. The only food Koalas eat.
“Invasive species” in California and Spain
Marsupials – mammals whose females carry babies in their pouch.

5. Marsupials
Kangaroo
Koala
Wallaby
Wombat
Tasmanian Devil
Bilby

6. Invasive Species An non-native species introduced to an area
Can cause other species to completely disappear and become extinct
Can be purposefully introduced or ‘hitch hike’
Gypsy Moth, Zebra Mussels, Asian Carp

7. Invasive Species in Australia
Introduced during colonization of Australia
Rabbit – Eat grasses many native animals rely on
Put Bilby in danger of extinction
Dingo
Kill Kangaroos and Wallabies
Cane Toad – introduced on purpose, but…

8. Australia Fences!