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Terra Nullius
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Governor Burke
The concept of terra nullius established at the settlement of Australia, and reinforced by the declaration of Governor Burke in 1835, unsured that there would be no recongition of Aboriginal rights to land. -
British Colonial Office - Native Title and rights to pastoral lands
From the 1840s onwards, the British Colonial Office wanted the Australian colonies to give formal recognition to native title and to grant rights for Aborigines to share pastoral lands. -
Indigenous in NSW petition for land rights
In the 1870s, Indigenous groups in parts of New South Wales petitioned for their right to own farming land. -
1967 Referendum
The 1967 Referendum had delievered administrative responsibility for Aborginal and Terroes Strait Islander peoples to the Commonwealth, but many felt that there still needed to be an acknowledgement of traditional ownership. -
Tent Embassy established
An Aboriginal ent Embassy was established on the lawn in front of the Australian parliament in 1972. -
Aboriginal Lands Rights Act passed
In 1976, after Gough Whitlam had left office, the Fraser Government passed the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, which officially granted land title to the Gurindji and other tribes in the Northern Territory. -
Eddie Mabo Decision
In June 1992, a group of Torrest Strait Islander people who had been led b Ediie Mabo won a court case in the High Court of Australia. -
Native Title Act passed
In December 1993, the government passed the Native Title Act to place the Mabo decision in AUstralia Law. -
Wik Case - High Court of Australia
In 1996, the question of native title om pastoral leases was raised and investigated in the High Court of Australia in the Wik case. -
Native Title Amendment Bill 1997
Because of criticism and concern expressed by pastoralists and conservative leaders, the Howard Government introduced a Native Tittle Adment Bill in 1997. This legislation effectively extinguished native title, not only on pastoral land but also on most other Crown land.