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Australian History
The first humans are believed to have arrived in
Australia
over 40,000 years ago. These people arrived via land-bridges and/or sea
crossings from Southeast Asia, and became the indigenous people known
as "aborigines". An additional and distinct group of early
settlers, ethnically Melanesian, settled in the Torres Strait Islands
(the Strait between
Australia
and Papua New Guinea)
and the far North of Queensland.
Europeans first began to reach the area at the aroud the beginning
of the 17th century. The first undisputed sighting of the Australian
mainland was by the Dutch sea captain, William Janszoon in 1606.
The Dutch are known to have chartered the western and northern
shorelines of the continent during the 17th century, but made no attempt
at settlement of what they called at the time "New Holland".
In 1770, British navigator, James Cook mapped parts of the East coast of
Australia:
the region today known as New South Wales. Cook claimed the area
for Great Britain.
The first British colony was established in New South Wales on
January 26th,
a day that is now remembered as "Australia Day".
The British formerly claimed the western portions of
Australia
in 1859, and during the 19th century a whole series of separate British
colonies were established around the continent. Much of this British colonization
was based upon the transportation of convicts to penal colonies, and it
was only in 1848 that the transportation of convicts to New South Wales stopped.
The arrival of Europeans had a drastic effect on the indigenous aboriginal
population. This fell dramaticly from a high of 350,000 due to the
infectious diseases, forced resettlements, and other factors. Indeed,
although the issues remain highly controversial and disputed, some
historians have characterized the events of the period as genocide.
In 1850s, the European population increased further thanks to a gold rush,
and between 1855 and 1890, each of the six British colonies was separately
granted responsible government - while the the colonies were autonomous in
their internal affairs, they Britain
retained control of foreign affairs and defense.
In 1901,
the six colonies were united in a federation known as the Commonwealth of Australia.
Australia
participated in both World War I and World War II as part of the British
Empire. To many Australians the events of the world wars, especially
the Gallipoli campaign in World War I, and the Kokoda Track Campaign
in World War II, were important milestones in
Australia's
path to independent nationhood.
Legally,
Australia
first moved towards independence from Britain
with the Statue of Westminister in
1931
(although
Australia
did not ratify it until
1942,
but then back dated its effect to
1939),
which granted effective independence in most matters.
Australia
however did retain some constitutional ties with
Britain for another 40 years,
these only finally be severed with the passing of the Australia Act in
1986.
It should be noted that the British Queen Elizabeth II is also
Queen of Australia, and a
1999
national referendum rejected becoming a republic.
Here are some books about the history of
Australia:
By Bruce Chatwin
Penguin (Non-Classics)
Paperback (304 pages)
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The late Bruce Chatwin carved out a literary career as unique as any writer's in this century: his books included In Patagonia, a fabulist travel narrative, The Viceroy of Ouidah, a mock-historical tale of a Brazilian slave-trader in 19th century Africa, and The Songlines, his beautiful, elegiac, comic account of following the invisible pathways traced by the Australian aborigines. Chatwin was nothing if not erudite, and the vast, eclectic body of literature that underlies this tale of trekking across the outback gives it a resonance found in few other recent travel books. A poignancy, as well, since Chatwin's untimely death made The Songlines one of his last books. |
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By Robert Hughes
Vintage Books
Released: 1988-02-12
Paperback (752 pages)
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An extraordinary volume--even a masterpiece--about the early history of Australia that reads like the finest of novels. Hughes captures everything in this complex tableau with narrative finesse that drives the reader ever-deeper into specific facts and greater understanding. He presents compassionate understanding of the plights of colonists--both freemen and convicts--and the Aboriginal peoples they displaced. One of the very best works of history I have ever read. |
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By K. Langloh Parker
Park Street Press
Released: 1993-07-01
Paperback (160 pages)
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Extending deep into the caverns of humanity's oldest memories, beyond 60,000 years of history and into the Dreamtime, this collection of Australian Aboriginal myths has been passed down through the generations by tribal storytellers. The myths were compiled at the turn of the century by K. Langloh Parker, one of the first Europeans to realize their significance and spiritual sophistication. Saved from drowning by Aboriginal friends when she was just a child, Parker subsequently gained unique access to Aboriginal women and to stories that had previously eluded anthropologists.
In the stories, women tell of their own initiations and ceremonies, the origins and destiny of humanity, and the behavioral codes for society. Included are stories of child-rearing practices, young love in adversity, the dangers of invoking the spiritual powers, the importance of social sharing, the role of women in male conflicts, the dark feminine, and the transformational power of language. Wise Women of the Dreamtime allows us to participate in the world's oldest stories and to begin a new dream of harmony between human society and nature.
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By Randy E. M. Foster
Osprey Publishing
Released: 2007-01-30
Paperback (64 pages)
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Vietnam Firebases 1965-1973 |
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By Kerry Greenwood
Poisoned Pen Press
Paperback (216 pages)
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Running late to a gala performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore, Phryne Fisher meets some thugs in dark alley and handles them convincingly before they can ruin her silver dress. She then finds that she has rescued the handsome Lin Chung, and his grandmother, who briefly mistake her for a deity.
Denying divinity but accepting cognac, she later continues safely to the theatre where her night is again interrupted by a bizarre death onstage.
What links can Phryne find between the ridiculously entertaining plot of Ruddigore, the Chinese community of Little Bourke St., or the actors treading the boards of His Majestys Theatre? |
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By Howard Morphy
Phaidon Press
Paperback (448 pages)
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By Paul Smitz
Lonely Planet
Paperback (256 pages)
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Toss another shrimp on the barbie, crack open a tinny or pour yourself a chardy while you traverse Australia's vast expanse of true blue, fair dinkum Aussie lingo - from cosmopolitan communique to surf slang, outback jargon and some of the world's oldest indigenous languages. C'mon avagoyermug!
-Features comprehensive section on Australia's impressive array of indigenous languages.
-Lonely Planet's English Language & Culture series goes behind the scenes of languages you thought you knew.
-Get into the culture and humor behind common - and not so common - English expressions and learn about the local languages that inspired them. |
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By Simon Nasht
Arcade Publishing
Hardcover (368 pages)
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This riveting biography recounts the life of the world's firsttruly modern explorer, a life of unrelenting adventure and the high dramaof polar exploration. Hubert Wilkins was the most successful explorer inhistory: no one saw with his own eyes more undiscovered land and sea.Largely self-taught, he was a celebrated reporter, pilot, spy, war hero,scientist, and adventurer. He captured in his lens war and famine, cheateddeath repeatedly, met world leaders like Lenin, Mussolini, and King GeorgeV, and circled the globe on a zeppelin. Knighted for being the first personto fly across the North Pole, Wilkins was also the first to fly in theAntarctic, discover land by airplane, and take a submarine under the Arcticice. |
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By Kerry Greenwood
Poisoned Pen Press
Released: 2008-07-10
Hardcover (249 pages)
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St. Kildas streets hang with fairy lights. Tea dances, tango competitions, lifesaving demonstrations, lantern shows, and picnics on the beach are all part of the towns first Flower Parade.
And who should be Queen of the Flowers but the Honourable Phryne Fisher? It seems that the lovely Phryne has nothing to do but buy dresses, drink cocktails, and dine in lavish restaurants.
Unfortunately, disappearances during this joyous festival arent limited to the magic shows. One of Phrynes flower maidens has simply vanished. And so, Phryne is off to investigate aided by Bert and Cec and her trusty little beretta. When her darling adopted daughter Ruth goes missing, Phryne is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her investigation.
Phryne must confront elephants, brothel-life, andperhaps worst of allan old lover in an effort to save Ruth and her flower maiden before it is too late.
Queen of the Flowers is the fourteenth book in the Phryne Fisher series, with no sign of Ms. Fisher hanging up her pearl-handled pistol yet.
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