Aboriginal timeline of interaction with English Europeans

  • William dampier's opinion of aboriginal people

    William dampier's opinion of aboriginal people
    William dampier wrote in 1688 that Australia’s Indigenous people were one of the most miserable people in the world
  • The arrival of the the first fleet

    The arrival of the the first fleet
    Eleven British ships carrying about 1000 people sailed into Port Jackson on Australia's Coast.
  • Europeans thought little of aborigine people

    Europeans thought little of aborigine people
    Europeans regarded aboriginal people as noble savages.
  • The smallpox disease

    The smallpox disease
    Smallpox killed half of indigenous population around port jackson
  • The murder of Pemulwuy

    The murder of Pemulwuy
    In 1802 Pemulwuy was murdered. His gullitone head was sent to England to be studied by and examined by scientists.
  • Aborigines were intimidated by the english

    Aborigines were intimidated by the english
    Aborigines were extremely fearful of european settlers
  • A nyungar was shot

    A nyungar was shot
    In 1831, a Nyungar was shot while taking potatoes from a settler’s garden. The settler thought this was stealing but the Nyungar would have seen it as taking the land’s resources because all aborigines thought no-one owned the lands resources.
  • Myall creek massacre

    Myall creek massacre
    Many aboriginal people died because of being shot or stabbed by english people.
  • Native officers were created

    Native officers were created
    Native officers were created so they could not hurt there own people, this meant that the europeans had more control over the aboriginal people.
  • The decrease in population of the Kurnai people

    The decrease in population of the Kurnai people
    By 1858 the Kurnai population had reduced from about 2000 in the year 1840 to only 80 as a result of settler attacks and massacres and the new diseases introduced by sealers and whalers.
  • The recurring of diseases

    The recurring of diseases
    Disease was a problem that continued in Coranderrk, and tuberculosis, smallpox and venereal disease all caused many deaths. As well as causing deaths, these diseases disadvantaged the reserve of labour and children. Half of all children born on Aboriginal reserves before 1900 died in infancy.
  • The closure of farming, baking, schooling and house building

    The closure of farming, baking, schooling and house building
    Farming, baking, schooling and house building were original activities during much of the reserve’s often thriving existence. Its closure in 1924 was a severe blow to the Indigenous people.