Levels 5-6
In this resource students will examine original artworks that explore Australia’s contact history and frontier conflict. They will discuss the establishment of British Colonies in Australia and the concept of Terra Nullius and the effect this had on the traditional custodians of the land, considering these events from the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and first settlers. Through looking slowly at an artwork and drawing conclusions from visual evidence, students will develop their visual analysis skills and enhance their knowledge of the events that contributed to Australian colonies’ development.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss significant events in Australian history; in particular the arrival of the British, the effect of Terra Nullius on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the consequences of frontier conflict.
- Explain the factors that shaped the Australian colonies and the effects this had on the daily life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and migrants.
- Analyse and interpret themes, concepts and ideas in Australian artworks from different times and cultures and discuss how these are expressed.
- Identify and connect specific aspects of artworks to a wider historical, cultural and social context.
- Create a written narrative reflecting on the experiences of different inhabitants of a colonial settlement, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.