Aboriginal Health

The Era Of Conquest

What most people refer to as "European Settlement", to our people was an invasion. Backed by the idea that Australia was "empty land" (terra nullius), the British colonisers stole our land and massacred many of our people.

The conquest began in different areas of the continent at different times: from 1788 when the First Fleet landed near Sydney, to the 1950s when the Western Desert peoples of Central Australia were "brought in" by government officials. Whenever it happened, our people were pushed off their homelands, or into areas not prized by the invaders. The result was the destruction of the economic base of Aboriginal communities. Populations were also devastated by diseases brought by the invaders. It was the beginning of ongoing grief for our people - grief that continues today.

During these times, church missions were set up and many of our people took refuge in these to escape the massacres or for food. Once on the missions, however, their culture and language were attacked as the missionaries tried to replace Aboriginal ways with "Christian" values.