Aboriginal History Timeline

120,000 years ago

Land was being cleared by use of fire in the Lake George Basin area, NSW

30,700 years ago

Underground oven shows continuity, Lake Mungo, NSW

30,000 years ago

Evidence of bread making, oldest in the world, Cuddy Springs, Western NSW

22,000 years ago

Occupation site at Wentworth Falls, NSW

16,000 years ago

Hearths, stone and bone tools, Shaws Creek near Yarramundi, NSW

5,000 years ago

Occupation site, Penrith Lakes, NSW

1401

Chinese sailors visit near Darwin, evidence of 15th Century Ming statuette found

1770

Captain James Cook claims to take possession of the whole east coast of Australia

1788

Captain Phillip raises the Union Jack at Sydney Cove. Aboriginal resistance flares within a few days of arrival of the tall ships. Two convicts are killed at Rushcutters Bay, NSW

1789

Small pox epidemic decimate the Eora people around Sydney

1796

Pemulwuy, the first guerrilla fighter leads the Darug in the first organised 12-year long Aboriginal resistance to the invasion. After being shot seriously twice, and surviving both times, he is considered unable to be killed by bullets.

1803

Tasmanian settlement

1804

Three Hawkesbury Aboriginals negotiate with Governor King to retain some places on the lower part of the river saying they would not trouble the white man. Told King they objected to ever increasing settlement along the river. King agreed.

1813

Bennelong dies

1815

Governor Macquarie founds the Native Institute as a school for Aboriginal children of both sexes

1822

Windradyne leads Wiradjuri Resistance that will last for two years along the Murray River

1830

The Black Line, a major military offensive against Tasmanian Aborigines

1831

Yagan leads Nyungar Resistance in Western Australia for three years

1832

Bungaree dies

1833

Yagan is killed. His head is cut off and pickled. It is then sent to England as a Museum curiosity

1836 to 1853

Thousands of Kooris are killed by Europeans throughout Victoria

1838

June: Myall Creek Massacre, NSW, with many Kwiambal people killed by Europeans

1868

The first Australian Cricket Team to tour overseas leaves Australia for England; the team is all Aboriginal

1868

150 Aboriginal people are killed resisting arrest in the Kimberley's

1878

Truganini dies; against her wishes the Tasmanian Museum displays her bones. 100 years later, her bones are cremated and scattered onto the water

1888

The phrase 'White Australia Policy' appears in William Lane's Boomerang in Brisbane

1888

Aboriginal population reduced Australia wide to an estimated 80,000, reduced by 220,000

1888

almost three quarters of the pre-European population of 300,000 (Compare this number to the toll of 27,000 Australian combatants killed and 23,500 wounded in World War 2)

1906

The invalid and Old Age Pensioner Act provides social security for some but not for Aboriginal people.

1909

First Aboriginal person to play First Grade Rugby League was George Green playing for Eastern Suburbs

1914

Beginning of WWI. Approximately 400 to 500 Aboriginal continue to be removed from their families during the period 1914 to 1918, including children whose fathers are overseas at War.

1929

Lynch Cooper was named World Professional Sprinter Champion

1931

Eddie Gilbert bowled the great Donald Bradman for duck, in the fastest bowling spell Bradman said he ever faced

1932

William Ferguson forms the Aboriginal Progressive Association

1937

A Federal Conference in Canberra endorses a new assimilation policy

1938

Day of Mourning Conference and Protest

1939

Beginning of WWII. An estimated 3000 Aboriginal people and Islanders serve as formally enlisted soldiers, sailors or airmen. Aboriginal children continue to be removed from their families during the period 1939 to 1945, including children whose fathers are overseas at war

1948

Under the Commonwealth and Citizen Act 1948 (No. 83) all Aboriginals are now British subjects and Australian citizens

1948

Melbourne's first Moomba festival staged. Aboriginals at Cormanderk approached about naming the festival. They suggest "Moomba", telling the officials it means "Lets Get Together and have Fun!" Actually meaning "up your bum" the name was adopted and used to this day

1962

Commonwealth Electoral Act is amended so that all Aboriginal people may vote

1966

Charles Perkins leads Freedom Ride through western NSW protesting discrimination, segregation in places such as swimming pools and living conditions

1967

Referendum sees 92% vote to give the Commonwealth power to legislate for all Aboriginal People and open means for them to be counted in the Census

1968

Lionel Rose beats Bantamweight 'Fighting' Harada in Tokyo to become the first Aboriginal World Boxing Champion

1971

Aboriginal Flag is designed by Luritja artist Harold Thomas and flown for the first time in Adelaide

1971

Evonne Goolagong wins Wimbledon Women's Singles title

1975

Racial Discrimination Act is passed in the Federal Parliament. The Australian Senate unanimously endorses a resolution put up by Senator Neville Bonner acknowledging prior ownership of this country and seeking compensation for their dispossesion

1976

Pat O'Shane graduates from UNSW, becoming the first Aboriginal person to be admitted to the Bar

1978

Health statistics show that 48 in every 1000 Aboriginal babies in NT die before reaching 1 year of age. This compares to 1 baby in every 1000 in the white population. Of the 6000 Aboriginal children living in Sydney 4000 are underweight. Leprosy still occurs in the Aboriginal populations and alcohol is a serious problem

1982

Mark Ella named Australian of the Year

1982

Eddie Mabo commences proceedings in the High Court of Australia

1984

End of various "protection acts", which had existed since 1897 in Queensland. Under these laws Aboriginal people were effectively slave labourers; the wages for their labour were stolen by the State or never even claimed by the State from the employers. The issue of reparation is still unresolved.

1988

Tens of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people march through the streets of Sydney on 28 January (Australia Day) to celebrate their survival during the previous 200 years, while non-indigineous Australia commerates the bicentenarry of their immigration. Rename day 'Survival Day'

1992

The High Court of Australia rules in the Mabo case, recognising the special relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have with the land

1999

Opening of Muru Mittigar.

2000

People's walk for Reconciliation over Sydney Harbour Bridge

2000

Cathy Freeman wins Gold at the Sydney Olympics