HistoryMuru Mittigar first opened in 1998 as an initiative of the Aboriginal Community of Western Sydney. Muru Mittigar acknowledges the Darug people as the traditional custodians of the local area while creating an environment that maintains Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. Aboriginal History Timeline
5,000 years ago |
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| 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 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 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. |
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| 1813 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 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 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 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 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 families during the period 1939 to 1945, including children whose fathers are overseas at war 1948 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 Perkins leads Freedom Ride through western NSW protesting discrimination, segregation in places such as swimming pools and living conditions 1967 Referendum sees 92% vote to give the Commonwealth power to legislate for all Aboriginal People and open means for them to be counted in the Census 1968 Lionel Rose beats Bantamweight 'Fighting' Harada in Tokyo to become the first Aboriginal World Boxing Champion 1971 Aboriginal Flag is designed by Luritja artist Harold Thomas and flown for the first time in Adelaide |
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1971 1988
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