The Constitutional Conventions
Explore the process of drafting the Australian Constitution through a series of conventions and referendums.
Key Questions
- Explain the key compromises made during the drafting of the Australian Constitution.
- Analyze the democratic nature of the referendum process for Federation.
- Critique the exclusion of certain groups from participating in the constitutional conventions.
ACARA Content Descriptions
About This Topic
Australian Identity and Culture explores how a distinct national character was 'invented' and promoted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This topic (AC9H9K03, AC9C9K01) examines the 'bush myth', the idea of the rugged, egalitarian white male as the 'typical' Australian, and how this was reflected in the art of the Heidelberg School and the poetry of Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson.
Students will also look at the 'Anzac legend' and how it built upon these earlier myths. Crucially, the unit asks students to critique these narratives: Whose stories were left out? How do these myths reconcile with the reality of a multicultural and Indigenous Australia? This topic comes alive when students can deconstruct and 'remix' these national symbols and stories.
Active Learning Ideas
Inquiry Circle: Deconstructing the Bush Myth
Groups analyse a famous painting or poem (e.g., 'The Man from Snowy River'). They identify the 'ideal' Australian traits being promoted and discuss who is missing from the picture.
Think-Pair-Share: What is an Australian?
Students list five words that describe 'Australian identity'. They compare their lists in pairs and discuss how their lists might differ from a student's list in 1901.
Gallery Walk: Modern vs. Mythic Australia
Display 'mythic' images (shearers, Anzacs) alongside images of modern, multicultural Australia. Students move through the gallery and record how our national identity has evolved.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionAustralian identity has always been the same.
What to Teach Instead
It is a constantly evolving 'story' that has changed from 'British' to 'Bush' to 'Multicultural'. A 'identity timeline' helps students see these shifts.
Common MisconceptionThe 'bush myth' was an accurate reflection of how most people lived.
What to Teach Instead
Even in the 1890s, Australia was one of the most urbanised countries in the world. Peer-led research into 1890s census data helps students see this gap between myth and reality.
Suggested Methodologies
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'bush myth'?
How did the Heidelberg School influence Australian identity?
Why is the Anzac legend so important to Australian identity?
How can active learning help students understand Australian identity?
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