Australia and its people Flashcards
Who are Australia’s first inhabitants?
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Who has the oldest continuous cultures and traditions in the world?
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Where are aboriginal people from historically?
Mainland Australia and Tasmania
According to the archeological record, how many years ago did the Aboriginal peoples arrive in Australia?
Between 65,000 and 40,000 years ago
What do the Aboriginal peoples believe about creation stories of this land?
They believe they are central to the creation stories of this land, and their creation stories commence with the beginning of time.
Where are Torres Strait Islander people from?
The islands between the northern tip of Queensland and Papua New Guinea
What still guides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today?
age-old beliefs and traditions
How is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples deep connection with the land expressed?
in their stories, art and dance
What is an important part of Australia’s national identity?
Indigenous cultures
When did European settlement start?
when the first 11 convict ships, which became known as the ‘First Fleet’, arrived from Great Britain on 26th January 1788
Why did the convicts get transported to the other side of the world: to the new colony of New South Wales in 1788?
Because British laws were harsh and the jails could not hold the large number of people imprisoned for their crimes.
Who was the first Governor of the colony of New South Wales?
Captain Arthur Phillip
How did the colony survive and grow?
as more convicts and free settlers arrived, it grew and developed. more colonies were established in other parts of Australia
Where did early free settlers come from?
Great Britain and Ireland
What heritage has had a major influence on Australia’s recent history, culture and politics?
The British and Irish heritage
When did the gold rush begin?
1851
Which colonies was gold discovered in 1851?
New South Wales and Victoria
Why did people from all around the world come to Australia in 1851?
to try to make their fortunes during the ‘gold rush’
Who were the large group of migrants to arrive not from Europe?
Chinese people (arrived during the ‘gold rush’ time)
In what time-frame did Australia’s population more than double during the ‘gold rush’’?
10 years
What happened in 1901?
the separate colonies were united into a federation of states called the Commonwealth of Australia
What was established in 1901 under the new Australian Constitution?
our national democratic institutions, including our national parliament, government, and High Court
What was the population of Australia in 1901
about four million (but this did not include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
When were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples included in official estimates of the Australian population?
After a Referendum in 1967
Migration levels rose and fell during which time-point?
the first half of the 20th century
There were programs to actively encourage which migrants to settle here in the first half of the 20th century?
British migrants (and many did)
When did a wave of non-British migration occur?
After World War 2
Why was there a wave of non-British migration after World War 2?
Because millions of people in Europe had to leave their homelands
In recent years, what has brought people to Australia from all over the world?
our migration and refugee programs
What main reasons do people have in recent years for coming to Australia?
to joint family, to make a new life, or to escape poverty, war, or persecution
What has increased in Australia’s population in the last two centuries?
the diversity which enhances Australia’s connection to the world
While Australia celebrates the diversity of Australia’s people, they also aim to what?
build a cohesive and unified nation
What is Australia’s national language?
English
In keeping with Australian values, migrants should learn what?
English to help them participate in Australian society
How many distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are there?
more than 100
The Commonwealth of Australia is what?
A federation of states and territories
How many states and mainland territories are there in Australia?
6 states and 2 mainland territories