STORY BY PAUL HUGHES, UPDATED IN 2023 -- IMAGE BY NIGEL MALONE
Australia's history has been traced back over 60 million years and, while having a rich mix of nationalities today, it is home to the planet's oldest living culture.
This amazing country has been inhabited continuously by Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander groups for around 75,000 years.
Indigenous Aboriginal people are members of a 'Mob' or tribe, with more than 250 recognised Mobs in Australia and, within each Mob, up to seven family groups or clans.
Many Aboriginal people have a 'spirit protector', 'moiety' or ‘totem’ and usually an individual will have more than one – personal, family, gender and tribal.
Each Mob also has its own 'Country', which was defined and recognised by marked trees and natural landscapes such as rocky outcrops or rivers being the boundary between two tribes.
Oral maps were also passed from generation to generation and song series also known of dreaming tracks included positions of the sun and landscape features.
This sometimes makes it challenging to create accurate maps of the original boundaries for each Mob.
This amazing country has been inhabited continuously by Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander groups for around 75,000 years.
Indigenous Aboriginal people are members of a 'Mob' or tribe, with more than 250 recognised Mobs in Australia and, within each Mob, up to seven family groups or clans.
Many Aboriginal people have a 'spirit protector', 'moiety' or ‘totem’ and usually an individual will have more than one – personal, family, gender and tribal.
Each Mob also has its own 'Country', which was defined and recognised by marked trees and natural landscapes such as rocky outcrops or rivers being the boundary between two tribes.
Oral maps were also passed from generation to generation and song series also known of dreaming tracks included positions of the sun and landscape features.
This sometimes makes it challenging to create accurate maps of the original boundaries for each Mob.
While today's Australia has much to offer, its ancient history is uniquely tied to and understood through the cultures and traditions of its original peoples.
There were no books or photographs - the only 'records' over this time have been through paintings (in caves and on equipment), dances, music, songs and stories around the camp fires which have been passed from generation to generation.
Australia's indigenous peoples were nomadic and, when crossing into another Mob's area, would wait - often for days - to receive a 'Welcome to Country'. A Welcome to Country ceremony is not just permission to safely enter the land.
Country represents the lands, seas and waterways as well as each Mob's different laws, languages, customs, cultures, identity and family - everything to do with those regions and their communities.
Acknowledgement to Country is how indigenous Australians (or 'First Nations peoples') are recognised as the traditional custodians of their region (see below).
There were no books or photographs - the only 'records' over this time have been through paintings (in caves and on equipment), dances, music, songs and stories around the camp fires which have been passed from generation to generation.
Australia's indigenous peoples were nomadic and, when crossing into another Mob's area, would wait - often for days - to receive a 'Welcome to Country'. A Welcome to Country ceremony is not just permission to safely enter the land.
Country represents the lands, seas and waterways as well as each Mob's different laws, languages, customs, cultures, identity and family - everything to do with those regions and their communities.
Acknowledgement to Country is how indigenous Australians (or 'First Nations peoples') are recognised as the traditional custodians of their region (see below).
Discover Aboriginal Experiences
Tourism Australia has established 'Discover Aboriginal Experiences' to enable visitors to see first hand how these peoples not only survived, but flourished.
Every Mob has different traditions, stories and experiences that are unique, whether it is the ancient rock paintings which are often hidden in caves; nature's "bush tucker" foods that sustained them; the places to fish and hunt; the waterholes; natural medicines that abound; or the awe-inspiring landscapes.
Experienced Aboriginal guides from local indigenious communities pass on their deep knowledge of the land, traditions and history that have survived through stories and ceremonies from the time before any other nation was born!
Many who have experienced these tours describe them as "life-changing", "spiritual" , "totally memorable" and "downright awesome".
If you want to discover more about Australia's earliest years, use the programs certified here as genuine. Like many other things, fraudsters and thieves abound and you will benefit from this authentic advice from Tourism Australia.
Every Mob has different traditions, stories and experiences that are unique, whether it is the ancient rock paintings which are often hidden in caves; nature's "bush tucker" foods that sustained them; the places to fish and hunt; the waterholes; natural medicines that abound; or the awe-inspiring landscapes.
Experienced Aboriginal guides from local indigenious communities pass on their deep knowledge of the land, traditions and history that have survived through stories and ceremonies from the time before any other nation was born!
Many who have experienced these tours describe them as "life-changing", "spiritual" , "totally memorable" and "downright awesome".
If you want to discover more about Australia's earliest years, use the programs certified here as genuine. Like many other things, fraudsters and thieves abound and you will benefit from this authentic advice from Tourism Australia.
Acknowledgement to Country
In the spirt of reconciliation, Holiday Destinations acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Indigenous Tourism Helps Reconciliation
Australia's rich array of nationalities has had a massive impact on the country’s food, culture, art, literature, music, dress, sport and inclusiveness.
Australia's natural beauty stretches from rugged coastlines, magnificent beaches and coral reefs to tropical rain forests, popular snow fields, deserts, world class mountain ranges, national parks and amazing, unique wildlife.
Australia is a centre for world class industry, business and technology; has massive mineral resources; and produces some of the world's best primary industries.
This great diversity and easy-going lifestyle makes Australia one of the world's top holiday destinations and is one of the reasons it's known as 'The Lucky Country'.
Australia's natural beauty stretches from rugged coastlines, magnificent beaches and coral reefs to tropical rain forests, popular snow fields, deserts, world class mountain ranges, national parks and amazing, unique wildlife.
Australia is a centre for world class industry, business and technology; has massive mineral resources; and produces some of the world's best primary industries.
This great diversity and easy-going lifestyle makes Australia one of the world's top holiday destinations and is one of the reasons it's known as 'The Lucky Country'.
However, it was a vastly different story for Australia's original inhabitants.
Like many indigenous populations around the world throughout history, adventurers from rich, well-established 'empires' sailed into Australian waters more than two centuries ago, 'settled' and claimed a 'new nation'. The arrival of Europeans in Australia had a profound and devastating impact on Aboriginal people, who had inhabited the continent for at least 60,000 years before the arrival of the British in 1788. |
The initial contact between the Aboriginal people and the Europeans was marked by a combination of curiosity and hostility. The Europeans regarded the Aboriginal people as primitive and uncivilised and many believed that it was their duty to "civilise" the indigenous population.
The impact of European settlement on the Aboriginal people was catastrophic. The arrival of European diseases such as smallpox, measles and influenza had a devastating effect on the local population, as they had no immunity to these diseases. It is estimated that up to 90% of the Aboriginal population was wiped out within the first century of European settlement.
The impact of European settlement on the Aboriginal people was catastrophic. The arrival of European diseases such as smallpox, measles and influenza had a devastating effect on the local population, as they had no immunity to these diseases. It is estimated that up to 90% of the Aboriginal population was wiped out within the first century of European settlement.
The Europeans also introduced a range of new animals and plants, which had a significant impact on the Aboriginal way of life.
The introduction of rabbits and other pests led to the destruction of the Aboriginal food sources. Clearing land for agriculture and grazing destroyed many of the sacred sites and landmarks that were central to Aboriginal culture. In addition to the physical impact of European settlement, the Aboriginal people were also subjected to a range of discriminatory policies and practices. These included the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families, known as the Stolen Generations, and the imposition of restrictions on their movements, employment, and cultural practices. |
Today, the Aboriginal people continue to face significant challenges, including high levels of poverty, poor health outcomes, and ongoing discrimination.
However, there have been significant efforts to recognize and address the historical injustices that they have faced, and to work towards reconciliation between non-Indigenous and indigenous Australians.
However, there have been significant efforts to recognize and address the historical injustices that they have faced, and to work towards reconciliation between non-Indigenous and indigenous Australians.
There is still much to be done as part of various reconciliation processes in Australia, but increasingly all parties are reaching common grounds.
Many large portions of land have been placed into management or joint management with the traditional occupants, including the 130 million year old UNESCO world heritage-listed Daintree National Park and Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock.
In 2021 the world's largest sand island, the 184,000 hectare world heritage listed Fraser Island was formally renamed its original Indigenous title, K'gari
Modern Australia is seeing the continued expansion of indigenous tourism, as both locals and tourists become more aware of the significant history, skills and culture of our indigenous peoples.
There is a wealth of additional information on the website of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Studies.
Many large portions of land have been placed into management or joint management with the traditional occupants, including the 130 million year old UNESCO world heritage-listed Daintree National Park and Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock.
In 2021 the world's largest sand island, the 184,000 hectare world heritage listed Fraser Island was formally renamed its original Indigenous title, K'gari
Modern Australia is seeing the continued expansion of indigenous tourism, as both locals and tourists become more aware of the significant history, skills and culture of our indigenous peoples.
There is a wealth of additional information on the website of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Studies.
THESE BEAUTIFUL IMAGES FROM K'GARI WERE TAKEN BY NICK DUNN AND FRANKIE DIXON