3.1.

NON-INDIGENOUS RELATIONSHIPS
WITH AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENTS.
 Key Historical Group Time Period

Indigenous Australians 40,000 - 60,000 Years Ago

First Non-Indigenous settlers 1778 - Mid 1800’s

increasing population 1850’s - 1880’s

industrialisation 1880 - 1920's

nation building Early 1900’s - Mid 1900’s

1778 - MID 1800’S

FIRST NON-INDIGENOUS
SETTLERS
FIRST NON-INDIGENOUS
SETTLERS

• The first fleet arrived in 1778

• They believed that the land belonged to nobody,

therefore labeling it “Terra Nullius”

• Matthew Flinders completed the first circumnavigation

of Australia between 1801 and 1803

• The relationship of early settlers with the land was

based around the idea of Terra Nullius.
PERCEPTIONS

• Fear: The hot, bright and dry conditions, along with a dull green/grey
heavy vegetation cover was much different to the cold, lush green and
ordered landscape in the UK. Snakes, spiders and marsupials were far
different to the small furry animals of the homeland. At home they lived in
houses, wore nice clothes and ran farms, much different to the
aboriginals.

• As an adversary: This new land was their enemy, their opponent that
needed to be battled/conquered.

• Opportunity: As indigenous people were nomadic, settlers often didn't see

them, leading to believe that no one was there, and the land was theirs -
“Terra Nullius”.
• To be saved: The view was that Australia was ‘wild’ and
‘untamed’. Settlers saw it as their duty to ‘tame’, build
on, improve and farm on it.

Fear: Australian Orderly: Britain

INTERACTIONS

• Introduction of species: cows, sheep, cats, dogs, pigs,

rabbits, wheat, potatoes, corn and ornamental plants
among other things.

• Land clearing: for houses, towns and farms.

• Infrastructure development: roads and other transport

features, public buildings and services.
IMPACTS

• Cessation of lit fires: fear of the way Indigenous communities

lit fires led to the cessation (ending) of this practice, resulting
in and increase in levels of undergrowth.

• Forest clearing: timber was required, logging took place and

continues to today. Impacting on the severely reduced native
vegetation cover.

• Introduction of species: hard hooves of sheep, cattle and

horses degraded the land; rabbit and fox numbers increased
rapidly, competing with native species; cats and dogs preyed
on native species; many exotic plants were unchecked.
SUMMARY OF RELATIONSHIPS

Textbook, page 157

1850’S - 1880’S

INCREASING POPULATION
• By 1840 the European
population increased to
170,400

• It increased triple fold by

1850 to a 405,400
1850’S

• The 1850’s saw the dramatic increase in population,

this was mainly due to the discovery of gold.

• Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo, saw

enormous increases in population.
PERCEPTIONS

• Fear: fear of the bush remained common to new

arrivals, mostly from Europe, North America or China.

• As a resource: the environment was seen as a

resource through which you could make a fortune. This
remains today.
INTERACTIONS

• Early settler interactions remained during this time

(farming, land clearing, building etc.), on a large scale.

• New pursuits: mining and gold mining in particular.

sealing, whaling.

• Expansion: shops, libraries, theatres, police stations

and other buildings were required and built. Crops and
grazing areas expanded under the need for more food
for the growing population.
IMPACTS

• Erosion: extensive land clearing lead to devastating

erosion and run off effects.

• Loss of habitat: for native species.

• Introduced species: destroyed vegetation, upset food

webs, spread disease and contributed to land
degradation.

• First National Park: Royal National Park - Sydney 1879

SUMMARY OF RELATIONSHIPS

Textbook, page 159

1880 - 1920’S

INDUSTRIALISATION
• In the years after the
dramatic increase in
population, Australia
experienced constant
development.

• In Victoria, the focus is on

the last two decades of the
19th century.
• Development and exports dominated people’s
relationships with the land around Federation.

• The Government’s goal was to ‘open up’ the land

• Breakwater was created at Hastings to alter water flow

in and out of Westernport bay, allowing cargo ships.
PERCEPTIONS

• As a resource: State Governments saw the vast

uninhabited land as important to economic development
(urban development and agriculture). Minerals, forests
and waterways we all seen as resources to be extracted
and used to profit the population.

• IN danger: a new perception arose with the expansion of

industrialisation, that degradation was occurring.
Pressure began to build that the environment was in
need of preservation and protection.
INTERACTIONS

There were three key events/interactions during this time (pre existing
interactions continued).

• Machinery: mining, timber harvesting and agriculture was boosted by the

introduction of machinery such as tractors. Irrigation began in Mildura in 1886.

• Working conditions: the rise of labour movements and trade unions meant that
people now had time (8 hour work day) and money to experience the bushland
and fringes of cities and towns. Bushwalking, cycling and skiing became
popular.

• National Parks: the foundation of the first National Parks in the USA lead to
the Royal Nation Park in Sydney in 1879. Followed then by Tower Hill in 1892
and Mount Buffalo and Wilsons Promontory in 1898. Conservation had now
begun!
IMPACTS

• Increased use of machinery during this time simply extended

those already occurring with increasing population.

• Soil Salinity: The increase in salt content in soil. Began due to

irrigation and other agricultural practices. Lack of vegetation to
filter and bond soil together.

• Increased Pollution: Pesiticides were used in clearing forests and

for protecting crops.

• National Parks: People now had time to visit and appreciate

National Parks, understanding the importance of protecting them.
SUMMARY OF RELATIONSHIPS

Textbook, page 162

EARLY 1900’S - MID 1900’S

NATION BUILDING
• Federation in 1901 saw pressure
on the Commonwealth of
Australia to build a self-sustained
and independent nation.

• Nation building is the process of

constructing a national identity
including the development of
national myths as well as major
infrastructure development.

• For at least the next 50 years

nation building continued as a
major force.
PERCEPTIONS

• Perceptions based around ‘fear’ disappeared during this

time. Generations had now grown up here.

• Conservation: a growing recognition of the need to protect

and conserve for future generations.

• Worthship: for profit, most perceived this way.

• As a canvas: on which to paint a nation, to create an identity.

• As a resource: providing materials from which to build our

nation, yet this should be done sustainably.
INTERACTIONS

• National Transport Network: established for interstate

transportation of goods and people, including both
railways and roads.

• Great Ocean Road: returning soldiers were put to work

to help build the Great Ocean Road.

• Hydroelectricity: major dams built, Snowy Hydro

Scheme (NSW and Bogong High Plains).

• National Parks: conservation continued on a large scale.

 IMPACTS

• Salinity: major environmental problem now.

• Road and Rail: loss of land for infrastructure, increased

industrial, commercial and urban practices.

• Road and Rail: increased access for people to experience

natural environments, this helped with the ongoing
development of environmental and conservational practices.

• Introduced Species: rabbits, cane toads and thorns starfish

are among those to plague the environment.
IMPACTS (WATER)

• Reduction and change of flow of many alpine rivers had

devastating effects of sensitive ecosystems.

• Many immigrants working on the scheme bought

European cultural practices that filtered into Australian
culture; skiing, pizza, pasta, souvlaki to name a few.

• Construction of dams lead to environmental conflict (3.1.4)

• Positive impact: still remains the largest renewable energy

scheme in Australia.
SUMMARY OF RELATIONSHIPS

Textbook, Page 162