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Jan 1, 1111
120,000 years ago to 30,700 years ago
Land was being cleared by use of fire in the Lake George Basin area, NSW
Underground oven shows continuity, Lake Mungo, NSW -
Jan 2, 1111
30,000 years ago to 22,000 years ago
Evidence of bread making, oldest in the world, Cuddy Springs, Western NSW
Occupation site at Wentworth Falls, NSW -
Jan 3, 1111
16,000 years ago to 5,000 years ago
Hearths, stone and bone tools, Shaws Creek near Yarramundi, NSW
Occupation site, Penrith Lakes, NSW -
Jan 1, 1401
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 to 1796
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 to 1804
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 to 1830
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 to 1833
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 TO 1878
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 TO 1929
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 to 1939
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 fami -
1948 to 1968
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 Per -
1971 to 1978
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 befo -
1982 to 1988
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 -
1992 to 1999
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 -
2008
Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd offered a broad apology to all Aborigines and the Stolen Generations.
