THE COLONISATION OF AUSTRALIA
“The lives of Indigenous Australians today are affected by what has happened to us and our ancestors
over the past 230 years since Europeans arrived. This can be hard for non-Indigenous people to
understand, particularly if you haven’t learned much about Australian history at school. When people
have some knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the history of our contact
with non-Indigenous Australians since 1788, they have a much better feel for our achievements and
our persistent problems. They are more likely to share our pride and to want to improve relationships
between us as fellow Australians.”
PROFESSOR MICK DODSON AM
The Rabbits provides an opportunity for us to
reflect on where we, as Australians, have come
from and where we are heading. The Stolen
Generations, part of our nation’s recent history,
is one of many themes explored in the opera.
After the show, talk with your family, friends,
classmates and colleagues about the themes
in The Rabbits. Be respectful of each other as
the themes may be confronting to Australians,
particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people. We have included a timeline below to help
understand the facts and help with conversations.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
have inhabited Australia for millennia, and their
cultures, laws, ceremonies and connection to
the land are strong and enduring. This timeline
provides a snapshot of colonisation and some of
the significant events that affected the lives of
Australia’s First Peoples.
60,000 years ago—Before contact
Significant contact and trade of languages,
cultural practices, and goods occurred between
over 270 distinct language groups on peoples who
inhabited the continent now called Australia.
1770—Captain Cook
Captain Cook enters Botany Bay on the Endeavour.
The land is claimed for the British Crown and
declared terra nullius—land belonging to nobody.
1788—First Fleet
The First Fleet arrives and builds a settlement at
Port Jackson in Sydney, New South Wales.
1800
British settlement spread quickly across the
continent. While in many areas, good relations
existed between settlers and Aboriginal people,
this century was devastating for Indigenous
Australians.
1901—Federation
The Commonwealth of Australia is formed.
Early 1900
By 1911 laws are taken up in all states that
gave governments total control over the lives of
Indigenous Australians.
1910 to 1970—The Stolen Generations
It is determined that children with non-Indigenous
ancestry should be taken from their families and
raised in white institutions.
1948—Australian Citizenship
The Commonwealth National