Indigenous Traditions and European Settlement

Prior to European colonization, Australia was inhabited entirely by indigenous peoples, known as Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples, who practiced a variety of local religious traditions. Although particular beliefs varied, they were linked by an emphasis on the real and enduring ties between the material world and Dreaming beings, which are ultimately responsible for creating and sustaining both nature and humanity, and endowing particular groups and individuals with links to other elements in the natural world, including animals, plants and landscapes. Europeans explored the coasts of Australia during the 17th and 18th centuries, but colonization did not begin until the 1780s. In 1788, a British penal colony was established in what is now Sydney. Over the next 50 years, 161,000 prisoners were transferred to the territory. Free settlers began to arrive in the late 18th century, but it was the gold rush of the 1850s that led to radically increased immigration. The new settlers brought with them their religious traditions, such as Irish Catholicism, Scottish Presbyterianism, and English Anglicanism, among others. Australian Aborigines suffered a tragic decline during this period, as they were dispossessed of their lands and diseases spread among their population. Christian churches organized missions during this period, formally intended to “civilize” Aboriginal communities and spread Christianity. The overall consequences of this activity are still disputed, but certainly contributed to the tragic decline of indigenous languages and beliefs. In addition, the controversial government practice of removing children from Aboriginal families originated during this period.