08AUSnat&peopleCGHD

Page 1: Overview of the Lecture

• Key Topics:

  • Symbols of Australia:

    • National: flags, coat of arms, national colours, banknotes, coins, anthem (Advance Australia Fair).

    • Well-known animals: kangaroo, koala, wombat, emu, dingo, lyrebird, kookaburra, clownfish.

    • Plants: eucalyptus, wattle, bottlebrush, banksia, kangaroo paw, paper bark, Sturt’s desert pea.

    • Landscapes: Uluru, Great Barrier Reef, The Pinnacles, The Three Sisters, Twelve Apostles.

    • Built environments: Sydney Harbour, Sydney Opera House, Macquarie Lighthouse.

    • Aboriginal symbols: wood carving, bark painting, dance at corroborree, Didgeridoo, boomerangs.

• Economy:

  • Export-oriented, focusing on minerals, energy, agriculture, innovation, and education.

  • GDP per capita (2017): USD 53,800.

• Brief Timeline of Australian History:

  • 60,000 BC: Aborigines immigrate to Australia.

  • 42,000 BC: Aboriginal engravings found in South Australia.

  • 35,000 BC: Aborigines reach Tasmania.

  • 2000 BC: Dingo domestication.

  • 1300 AD: Marco Polo references unexplored southern land.

Page 2: European Exploration and Settlement

• Early European Contact:

  • 1616: Dirk Hartog sails to Western Australia.

  • 1770: Captain James Cook claims the east coast for Britain, labeling it ‘terra nullius’.

  • 1788: First Fleet arrives, establishing the penal colony in Sydney.

  • 1851: The Gold Rush begins, introducing Chinese settlers.

• Significant Events:

  • 1829: Establishment of the military base in Perth.

  • 1836: Founding of Adelaide by free settlers.

  • 1854: Eureka Stockade uprising for miners’ rights.

  • 1901: Formation of the Commonwealth of Australia; White Australia Policy introduced.

Page 3: Social Changes and Rights

• Major Legislative Changes:

  • 1967: Significant referendum for Indigenous Australians' rights.

  • 1984: 'Advance Australia Fair' declared National Anthem.

  • 1992: Mabo case establishes Indigenous native title, disputing terra nullius.

• Population Statistics:

  • 25 million Australians in 2018, density: 3.1/km².

  • More than 3 million Australians speak a language other than English.

• Demographic Insights:

  • 300,000-750,000 Aboriginal people pre-colonization; significant decline due to conflict and disease.

Page 4: Urban Demographics and Social Goals

• Major Cities and Population:

  • Sydney: 5,029,768

  • Melbourne: 4,725,316

  • Brisbane: 2,360,241

  • Perth: 2,022,044

  • Hobart: 224,462

• Government Objectives:

  • Commitment to an inclusive society respecting democracy and human rights.

  • Recognition and celebration of Australia's diversity.

Page 5: Aboriginal Culture and History

• Aboriginal Prehistory:

  • Continuous cultural history for over 60,000 years.

  • Social structures governed by traditions since the Dreamtime.

  • Hunting-gathering lifestyle shared among approximately 250 tribal groups.

• Spiritual Beliefs:

  • Creation from formless land with spirit beings shaping the landscape.

Page 6: European Settlement and Initial Conflicts

• Early European Views:

  • Explorers like Dampier and Cook held contrasting perceptions of Aboriginal Australians.

  • Misunderstandings led to cultural conflicts and misrepresentation.

• Impact of Colonization:

  • Rapid decline of Aboriginal population due to disease, violence, and displacement.

  • No treaties were made, leading to ongoing conflicts over land.

Page 7: From Colonization to Advocacy

• The Decline of Indigenous Populations:

  • Aborigines drastically reduced from 700,000 to 30,000 by 1929.

  • Introduced diseases significantly affected populations.

• Issues of Land Rights and Indigenous Activism:

  • The Stolen Generations and forced assimilation practices.

  • Political activism rising in the 1960s and aims for land rights and recognition.