Australia 1788-1900 Colonisation and Contact

Australia is a large continent on which many different Aboriginal groups lived for thousands of years. When Europeans arrived in 17 88, the history of Australia’s indigenous people and of the new colonists changed forever. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Europeans had taken control of the land and Aboriginal people were not even considered citizens of the country they had occupied for generations.

Term Text Definition In your words or key words to Illustration remind you of this word Artefacts Any object that has been made or modified by humans.

Assimilate Make part of another group by giving up original identity.

Blackbirders Peiole who kidnapped and transported South Pacific Islanders to Australia to work as forced labourers.

Colonisation The act of establishing a colony in another country.

Colony Settlement in one country that is controlled by another country from which the settlers originally came.

Coolamon A vessel made of wood or bark and used to carry water.

Corroboree A traditional Aboriginal dance for community entertainment or to celebrate a sacred event.

Evangelical Relating to the teaching of the Christian gospels. The nineteenth century evangelical movement stressed social justice, anti-slavery and racial equality. Guerrilla Tactics of small, tactics independent soldiers or fighters who harass the enemy with surprise raids.

Gypsum A mineral that can be used to make plaster.

Half-caste A person of mixed race.

Heathen Someone who does not believe in one of the world’s chief religions; a term used to describe those who had beliefs different from those of Christians.

Humanitaria Relating to the n promotion of human welfare.

Indigenous Describes a culture that has originated in an area, rather than one that has come from another part of the world.

Lease To allow someone to use the land or property for a fixed period in return for a regular payment.

Legislation Laws made by parliament.

Lobbying Influencing or gaining the support of an influential person.

Macassan Coming from the Indonesian trading centre of Macassar.

Marine Soldier serving on board a ship. midden A pre-historic garbage tip usually composed of shells and bones.

mission A place set up by a church organisation for the religious conversion or betterment of local people.

Musket Old-fashioned soldier’s handgun.

Native title The right of indigenous people to enjoy and use land or water with which they have a proven connection.

Pastoral Describes land used as pasture for cows.

Reformer One who works to improve things

Reserve Land set aside for indigenous people.

Segregate To enforce the separation of different racial groups.

Subsistence Describes farming in which all the produce is consumed by the farmer’s household.

Terra nullius Latin term for ‘land belonging to no one’ or unoccupied land.