What was colonial life like in Australia?
Daily Life. Life was very hard for most of Australia’s early settlers. The colonists of New South Wales struggled to find fertile land, and the hot, dry climate made farming even more difficult. The seasons were different from Britain’s, and most of the plants and animals were unfamiliar.
What is Australia’s colonial past?
British settlement of Australia began as a penal colony governed by a captain of the Royal Navy. Until the 1850s, when local forces began to be recruited, British regular troops garrisoned the colonies with little local assistance.
What was life like for indigenous Australians in the past?
They lived in small communities and survived by hunting and gathering. The men would hunt large animals for food and women and children would collect fruit, plants and berries. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities only used the land for things that they needed – shelter, water, food, weapons.
Did people live in Australia before colonization?
Prior to British settlement, more than 500 Indigenous groups inhabited the Australian continent, approximately 750,000 people in total. Their cultures developed over 60,000 years, making Indigenous Australians the custodians of the world’s most ancient living culture.
What was life like in the nineteenth century in Australia?
The nineteenth century was a period of great change and development in Australia’s history. New colonies were established; great expanses of land were opened up for settlement and hundreds of thousands of people flocked to this ‘new world’ looking for a new start on the goldfields, in the cities or on the land.
How many people lived in Australia before the British arrived?
Dispossession, disease and direct conflict. Prior to British settlement, more than 500 Indigenous groups inhabited the Australian continent, approximately 750,000 people in total. [1] Their cultures developed over 60,000 years, making Indigenous Australians the custodians of the world’s most ancient living culture.
How many Aboriginal people died during the colonisation of Australia?
It’s estimated that at least 20,000 Aboriginal people were killed as a direct result of colonial violence during this era of Australian history. Between 2,000- 2,500 settler deaths resulted from frontier conflict during the same period. [8] Looking for resources for your classroom? Stop and think: how important is your way of life?
What was life like for children in colonial Australia?
Houses of wealthy landowners and government officials were made from materials such as sandstone. These homes usually consisted of many rooms, including living quarters for the servants. Life in colonial Australia was just as hard for the children as it was for the adults.