The Australian Experience
Examine the history of British settlement in Australia, the legal fiction of 'terra nullius', and the violent dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
About This Topic
Examine the history of British settlement in Australia, the legal fiction of 'terra nullius', and the violent dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Key Questions
- Explain the concept of 'terra nullius' and how it was used to dispossess Aboriginal peoples of their land.
- Analyse the nature of the conflict between British settlers and the indigenous population.
- Compare the process of colonisation in Australia with that in North America.
Active Learning Ideas
See all activities→Activities & Teaching Strategies
See all activities
Planning templates for History
5E Model
The 5E Model structures lessons through five phases (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), guiding students from curiosity to deep understanding through inquiry-based learning.
Unit PlannerThematic Unit
Organize a multi-week unit around a central theme or essential question that cuts across topics, texts, and disciplines, helping students see connections and build deeper understanding.
RubricSingle-Point Rubric
Build a single-point rubric that defines only the "meets standard" level, leaving space for teachers to document what exceeded and what fell short. Simple to create, easy for students to understand.
More in Displacing Indigenous Peoples
European Imperialism and Settler Colonialism
Understand the concept of 'settler colonialism' and the motivations that drove European migrants to establish new societies in North America and Australia.
8 methodologies
The Native Peoples of North America
Explore the diversity of Native American cultures, their deep connection to the land, and their ways of life before the large-scale westward expansion of European settlers.
8 methodologies
Westward Expansion in the USA
Analyse the process of westward expansion in the United States, driven by the idea of 'Manifest Destiny', and its devastating impact on Native American populations.
8 methodologies
Policies of Assimilation and Control
Investigate the government policies in both the USA and Australia designed to control and assimilate indigenous peoples, such as the reservation system and residential schools.
8 methodologies
Indigenous Resistance and Voices
Explore the varied ways in which indigenous peoples resisted colonisation and fought to preserve their cultures, identities, and rights in the face of immense pressure.
8 methodologies