The British Subjugation of Australia: The History of British Colonization and the Conquest of the Aboriginal Australians

\*Includes pictures \*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading \*Includes a table of contents “It is quite time that our children were taught a little more about their country, for shame’s sake.” – Henry Lawson, Australian poet A land of almost 3 million square miles has lain since time immemorial on the southern flank of the planet, so isolated that it remained almost entirely outside of European knowledge until 1770. From there, however, the subjugation of Australia would take place rapidly. Within 20 years of the first British settlements being established, the British presence in Terra Australis was secure, and no other major power was likely to mount a challenge. In 1815, Napoleon would be defeated at Waterloo, and soon afterwards would be standing on the barren cliffs of Saint Helena, staring across the limitless Atlantic. The French, without a fleet, were out of the picture, the Germans were yet to establish a unified state, let alone an overseas empire of any significance, and the Dutch were no longer counted among the top tier of European powers. Australia lay at an enormous distance from London, and its administration was barely supervised. Thus, its development was slow in the beginning, and its function remained narrowly defined, but as the 19th century progressed and peace took hold over Europe, things began to change. Immigration was steady, and the small spores of European habitation on the continent steadily grew. At the same time, the Royal Navy found itself with enormous resources of men and ships at a time when there was no war to fight. British sailors were thus employed for survey and exploration work, and the great expanses of Australia attracted particular interest. It was an exciting time, and an exciting age - the world was slowly coming under European sway, and Britain was rapidly emerging as its leader. That said, the 19th century certainly wasn’t exciting for the people who already lived in Australia. The history of the indigenous inhabitants of Australia, known in contemporary anthropology as the “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia,” is a complex and continually evolving field of study, and it has been colored by politics. For generations after the arrival of whites in Australia, the Aboriginal people were disregarded and marginalized, largely because they offered little in the way of a labor resource, and they occupied land required for European settlement. At the same time, it is a misconception that indigenous Australians meekly accepted the invasion of their country by the British, for they did not. They certainly resisted, but as far as colonial wars during that era went, the frontier conflicts of Australia did not warrant a great deal of attention. Indigenous Australians were hardly a warlike people, and without central organization, or political cohesion beyond scattered family groups, they succumbed to the orchestrated advance of white settlement with passionate, but futile resistance. In many instances, aggressive clashes between the two groups simply gave the white colonists reasonable cause to inflict a style of genocide on the Aborigines that stood in the way of progress. In any case, their fate had largely been sealed by the first European sneeze in the Terra Australis, which preceded the importation of the two signature mediums of social destruction. The first was a collection of alien diseases, chief among smallpox, but also cholera, influenza, measles, tuberculosis, syphilis and the common cold. The second was alcohol. Smallpox alone killed more than 50% of the aboriginal population, and once the fabric of indigenous society had crumbled, alcohol provided emotional relief, but relegated huge numbers of Aborigines to the margins of a robust and emerging colonial society. From the Swan River to the Hawkesbury, and from the sticky Arnhem Land mangrove to the soft green hills of Tasmania, this book describes the major conflicts fought on the Australian frontier to 1838. Based on extensive research and using overseas frontier wars to add perspective to the Australian experience, The Australian Frontier Wars, 1788-1838 will change our view of Australian history forever. Over the last thirty years, Australians have become increasingly aware that violence accompanied the colonisation of their continent. Historians have shown that the armed conflicts between Aborigines and British settlers and soldiers, though small in scale and sporadic in nature, can truly be described as 'wars'. However, a gap remains at the heart of our understanding of the Australian frontier: the actual warfare, and the weapons and tactics used to fight it, remain poorly understood.The Australian Frontier Wars is the first book-length military history of frontier conflict in Australia. Covering the first fifty years of British occupation in Australia, this book examines in detail how both sides fought on the frontier. It shows how Aborigines developed a new form of warfare that differed from their traditional methods. Already expert in raids and ambush, Aborigines now used these skills to attack the settlers' crops, stock and farmhouses. Raiding parties took goods and foodstuffs when they were useful, and destroyed them when they were not. When the terrain assisted these tactics, Aborigines were able temporarily to stop settlers occupying their land. While the British Army arrived in Australia with experience of frontier warfare in other parts of the Empire, it initially found it difficult to operate on the frontier. Aboriginal tactics overcame British muskets, and Aboriginal warriors evaded settlers and soldiers. However, once the British began using horses, they were able to track and attack Aboriginal groups, and gained the advantage that would bring them victory. An alternative history of Australia written in a lively and accessible style and exploring the crucial role of the sea in shaping our national identity. The story of the Australian people is a story of the interaction of land, cities and the sea. Land and cities have received ample attention but the role of the sea as an integral part of our national experience has remained largely unexplored. Island Nation sets out to restore the sea to its rightful place in Australia's history. It offers an alternative account of the past and opens new windows on the forces that have shaped our present.Island Nation traces the profound, diverse and all-embracing influence of the sea on Australian society - an influence that extends far beyond the coastline. In this story of the interaction of people and the sea, three major issues emerge: controlling sea space, taming distance, and living with the sea. In exploring these issues in all their diversity, Island Nation ranges widely, encompassing the birth of an Australian'Monroe Doctrine', the development of unique economic and political institutions, the role of surfing and the growth of tourism, the impact of the sea on Australian art,'ships of shame'and very much else besides.'In this deftly innovative survey, Frank Broeze draws the reader's attention away from the landmass to the oceans that surround it, and then back to the shoreline, ports and beaches. There have been previous studies of Australians and the sea, but this is our first fully amphibious account.'- Professor Stuart Macintyre The Australian Frontier Wars Is The First Book-length Military History Of Frontier Conflict In Australia. Covering The First Fifty Years Of British Occupation In Australia, This Book Examines In Detail How Both Sides Fought On The Frontier. It Shows How Aborigines Developed A New Form Of Warfare That Differed From Their Traditional Methods. Already Expert In Raids And Ambush, Aborigines Now Used These Skills To Attack The Settlers' Crops, Stock And Farmhouses. Raiding Parties Took Goods And Foodstuffs When They Were Useful, And Destroyed Them When They Were Not. When The Terrain Assisted These Tactics, Aborigines Were Able Temporarily To Stop Settlers Occupying Their Land. While The British Army Arrived In Australia With Experience Of Frontier Warfare In Other Parts Of The Empire, It Initially Found It Difficult To Operate On The Frontier. Aboriginal Tactics Overcame British Muskets, And Aboriginal Warriors Evaded Settlers And Soldiers. However, Once The British Began Using Horses, They Were Able To Track And Attack Aboriginal Groups, And Gained The Advantage That Would Bring Them Victory.--jacket. Warriors And Soldiers -- Sydney, 1788-1791 -- The Hawkesbury-nepean River, 1795-1816 -- The Bathurst And Hunter Valley Districts, 1822-1826 -- Northern And Western Australia, 1824-1834 -- Van Diemen's Land, 1826-1831 -- The Liverpool Plains And Port Phillip Districts, 1838. John Connor. Includes Bibliographical References ( P. [153]-165) And Index. Island Nation Traces The Profound, Diverse And All-embracing Influence Of The Sea On Australian Society - An Influence That Extends Far Beyond The Coastline. In This Story Of The Interaction Of People And The Sea, Three Major Issues Emerge: Controlling Sea Space, Taming Distance, And Living With The Sea. In Exploring These Issues In All Their Diversity, Island Nation Ranges Widely, Encompassing The Birth Of An Australian 'monroe Doctrine', The Development Of Unique Economic And Political Institutions, The Role Of Surfing And The Growth Of Tourism, The Impact Of The Sea On Australian Art, 'ships Of Shame' And Very Much Else Besides.--jacket. Pt. I. Controlling Sea Space: Geopolitics, War And Naval Policy. 1. Aboriginal Settlement And European Expansionism: British Australia In The Asia-pacific Region. 2. Independent Australia: Security And The Dilemmas Of Self-reliance -- Pt. Ii. Overcoming Distance: Shipping, Settlement And Ports. 3. Bridging The Oceans: Ships, Cargoes And Passengers. 4. Exploration, Settlement And Coastal Shipping. 5. The Heart Of Maritime Life: Australia's Ports And Port Cities -- Pt. Iii. Living With The Sea: Work, Culture And Lifestyle. 6. Australians Offshore: Harvesting The Sea. 7. Maritime Workers And Their Unions. 8. A Culture Of The Sea. 9. The Sea In Australia's Life. Frank Broeze. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 274-282) And Index. From the Swan River to the Hawkesbury, and from the sticky Arnhem Land mangrove to the soft green hills of Tasmania, this book describes the major conflicts fought on the Australian frontier to 1838. Based on extensive research and using overseas frontier wars to add perspective to the Australian experience,'The Australian Frontier Wars 1788 - 1838'will change our view of Australian history forever. Examining Australia's seaborn history, this work focuses on controlling sea space, overcoming distance, and living with the sea. For much of its economic survival Australia is dependent on overseas trade and shipping. The maritime factor has been a key ingredient in Australia's history.