2. A SORRY HISTORY A Timeline of Australian Aboriginal history. Section One Dreamtime to 1900. Collated by John, Betty, Dick and Jane Unit Plan

3. It is believed that Aborigines have lived in Australia for between 55,000 and 110,00 years. 55 000 BC Earliest visible evidence of Aboriginal belief connected with the Rainbow Serpent. This becomes the longest continuing religious belief in the world. 7000 - 5000 BC

4. Trade with Asia - Dutch documents record trade between Macassan (Indonesian) sailors and Aborigines living on the northern coast of Australia. 1451 - 1900 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.

5. '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 – 100-300 dead 1840 - 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.

6. 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.

7. References Latrobe University Library, “Aboriginal Histories, Australian Histories, and the Law”http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/AHR/archive/Issue-April- 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, 2002.. Baillie, Alan. Song Man. Melbourne: Penguin, 1995. Papunya School. Papunya School Book of Country and History. Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 2001.

8. © State of Victoria 2003 This work has been created by the teacher listed below as employees of the Department of Education and Training, Victoria and copyright is owned by the Crown in right of the State of Victoria. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and no commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for the purposes other than those indicated above requires the written permission of the Department of Education and Training. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and copyright should be addressed to the Liability Management Manager, Department of Education and Training, 2 Treasury Place, Melbourne, VIC, 3002 The State of Victoria accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any part of this material and bears no responsibility for any modifications made. Teacher’s name and materials produced – H. Carver - ‘Reconciliation’ Unit Plan & Multimedia presentation.