3.1.

3-
Non-indigenous
relationships with
outdoor
environments
Relationships with Australian outdoor environments as influenced by:
• The first non-indigenous settlers’ experiences
• Increasing population
• Industrialisation
• Nation building
Historical periods that have influenced relationships with the Australian environment

Key Historical Group Time Period

Indigenous Australians 50,000 years (at least)

The first non-indigenous settlers 1778 - Mid 1800’s

Increasing population 1850’s - 1880’s

Industrialization 1880 - 1920's

Nation building Early 1900’s - Mid 1900’s

T h e f i rst n o n - i n d i ge n o us
s ett l e rs
1 7 7 8 - M i d 1 8 0 0 ’s
• After Captain James Cook documented the
existence of “Terra Australis” in 1770, the
British moved quickly to establish their
possession of the new land.
• In 1787, the first fleet sailed from England to
set up a new colony on the arrived in 1778 • It wasn’t until 1803 that Matthew
• In January 1788, 11 ships and their 1400+ Flinders completed the first
passengers arrived in Sydney Cove to circumnavigation of Australia.
establish the first permanent European • The relationship of early settlers with
settlement in Australia. the land was greatly influenced by the
• They believed that the land belonged to idea of Terra Nullius.
nobody, therefore labeling it “Terra Nullius”.
The first settlers relationships pg.163-165

Perceptions Practices Impacts

The early settlers held a The early settlers The early settlers were few
range of views about the perceptions of the land in number, meaning their
new environment they directly influenced the impacts were fairly low.
found themselves in, interactions they had with it. Some of the practices they
including: 1. Exploration started had major impacts
1. Fear 2. Land clearing as time progressed.
2. Opportunity 3. Development of 1. Cessation of fire-stick
3. To be saved infrastructure farming
2. Forest clearing
3. Introduced species
TASK:
• Read about each aspect of the early settlers relationships
with the Australian environment.
• Summarise each.
I n c re a s i n g p o p u l at i o n • Different parts of Australia
1 8 5 0 ’s saw rapid population
growth at different times.
• Victoria’s greatest
increases occurred in the
1850s as a result of the
discovery of GOLD!
(see the population table
pg.166)
• The rapid influx of people
to the goldfields not only
saw Australia’s population
increase, but very quickly
resulted in large scale
changes to areas of the
environment
‘Increasing population’ relationships
pg.166-168

Perceptions Practices Impacts

Many perceptions persisted,
but the land was
increasingly being seen as a
resource.
Seeing the land as a More people meant an
resource and using it in increase in their impacts.
particular ways (mining,
agriculture) meant activity
specific practices were used.

TASK:
• Summarise each aspect of relationships with the
environment relating to the increasing population.
I n d u st r i a l i s at i o n
L a t e 1 8 0 0 ’s ( 1 8 8 0 - 1 8 9 0 )
• The years after population
increases began, Australia
underwent constant
development.
- cities grew
- agriculture continued to
expand and develop
- the land was cleared
- new industries began
• The industrial revolution also
saw the birth environmental
recognition- a realisation that it
was more than simply a
resource.
‘Industrialisation’ relationships
pg.169-170 Practices Impacts
This period still saw a The increased scale at which
continuation of exploration, many interactions could be
Perceptions
land clearing and undertaken saw the effect of
While the environment was
development, but three key them increase like never
still largely viewed as a
things were changing how before.
resource, it was also being
they impacted on the Protection of some areas
recognised that parts of it
environment. and the rise of recreation
were in danger due to its
1. Machinery had both positives and
past treatment.
2. Working conditions negatives.
3. National Parks
TASK:
• Summarise each aspect of relationships with the environment
relating to the industrial revolution in Australia.
N at i o n b u i l d i n g
1901 onwards • 1901 saw the foundation of the
Commonwealth of Australia- an independent
country rather than a British colony.
• With this came the pressure to build a self-
sustained and independent nation.
• This period saw an increased need develop and
manage the environments resources
sustainably.
• Around the 1960s the emergence of
environmental movements started to influence
and change peoples relationships with the
environment- changes that are felt through to
this day.
 ‘Nation building’ relationships
pg.170-172
Perceptions
No longer merely a resource, the
environment is viewed and celebrated
as a part of our cultural identity.
Practices
Australia continued to be developed
through agriculture, mining and
logging as well as the expansion of
cities and towns.
1. Mass transportation
2. Electrical power
3. Introduced species • Summarise each aspect of relationships with the environment
relating to nation building in Australia.
Impacts
Many past impacts were really starting to be felt to full
effect.
• Agricultural practices over time were being
recognised as causing dryland salinity and land
degradation.
• Mass transport networks – connected the country,
but increased access to resources in the environment.
• Water – Massive dams and hydro-electric schemes
• Introduced species – many already introduced species
continue to be a problem, some new arrivals add to
this as well.
Positives - it wasn’t all bad…
• Environmental concerns saw increased protections.
TASK:
Another perspective pg.174

“One night the moon”

One night the moon is a fictional account of a search for a lost child and the conflicting relationships held by
the lands original inhabitants and the new settlers.

Setting the scene:

One night, in the Australian outback in the early 1930s, a young girl steps out of her bedroom window -
entranced by the beautiful, beaming moon. When her parents go to check on their sleeping child, she is
nowhere to be found.
The mother and father, recent settlers in the rugged landscape, spend the night looking for her. To no avail.
By early morning, the father turns to the local police for help. The Sergeant suggests that they set out with
Aboriginal tracker Albert to find her. But the father revolts – insisting “no blackfella is to set foot on my land.”
Instead, he gathers together as many white men as he can find, and conducts a line search across the
desolate plains in search of the child. Albert watches helplessly as her every trace is stamped to dust.

https://vimeo.com/105559296
Summary of non-indigenous relationships
• It is important not to over simplify both indigenous and non-indigenous
relationships with the environment.
Ie: indigenous relationships = good & Non-indigenous = bad
• It is worth remembering that the indigenous Australians also had impacts
on the environment that are present through to today
• The early Europeans impacts on the environment were largely the result of
them trying to learn, adapt and survive in conditions that are unique to
Australia.
• The indigenous Australians adapted to the environment over 50,000 years
– Europeans have had a large impact in a short space of time, but they
haven’t had the same amount of time to learn from and adjust to the
environment.