Historical Landmarks
Overview
Acknowledgement
At the heart of the Jajoo Warrngara are the communities that lead our work on Country. We pay our respects to the Elders past and present. We would like to acknowledge both the Jaara and Bangerang communities, Custodians and Elders for their input into these resources.
Although the Jaara and Bangerang communities have worked with SharingStories to produce this content, we acknowledge that all Traditional Custodians across our continent have been impacted by colonisation. Jajoo Warrngara pay our respects to all affected, particularly the Eora Clans, who inhabited the east coast of New South Wales during first contact, and all First Nations people who died defending their land in the Frontier Wars.
Protocols
First-person Cultural knowledge has been shared by the Jaara and Bangerang Traditional Custodians as part of these resources. Classroom Teaching Protocols have been developed to support the cultural safety of both educators and students while sharing knowledge throughout this unit. It is strongly recommended that the Classroom Teaching Protocols are read prior to teaching this unit.
NB The ongoing trauma caused by colonisation continues to impact the health and wellbeing of many First Nations peoples through inequality, racism and disruption to culture and Language. The content of this unit may cause distress for First Nations students and their families. SharingStories strongly suggests that families are advised that you will be studying this unit of work. An example letter can be accessed here.
Overview
In this unit, students engage with the knowledge shared by Elders and Custodians regarding their perspectives of the 26th January in Australia. They investigate how European colonists acquired land in the 1770s. They reflect on the Frontier Wars and how these may have shaped Australian society, with a focus on place names and landmarks.
Essential Questions
- Why is the 26th of January a public holiday in Australia? What is it remembered for? Why are there various opinions about the day? Why do some people refer to this day as ‘A Day of Mourning’, ‘Survival Day’ or ‘Invasion Day?
- Before Europeans arrived in Australia, who lived here? What practices existed on this land before colonisation in relation to laws, protocols and land ownership?
- How did local Aboriginal people respond when Captain Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet arrived on Australian shores? How do you know?
- Were European explorers welcome on Aboriginal Land before colonisation? How might you find this out?
- Was land acquired in Australia through negotiation, treaty or war? How might this differ from other countries around the world that were colonised for British expansion?
- There are several war memorials in Australia that honour those who have fallen in various wars or peacekeeping missions. Are there any war memorials acknowledging the people who died in the Frontier Wars?
Links to Resources
Cultural Protocols
Teacher Resources
Media
Historical Landmarks Lesson 1
- Using the Map of Indigenous Australia | AIATSIS, identify where both Jaara and Bangerang Country are in relation to each other and your school.
- Watch the SharingStories Foundation interviews with the Traditional Custodians of both Jaara and Bangerang Country, Uncle Rick Nelson and Roland Atkinson.
- Facilitate a class discussion about the interviews. Some questions to support this discussion are: What are some things you learned after viewing and engaging with the texts/films? What surprised you? What challenged your thinking? What would you like to know more about?
- Explain to the students that the following lessons are about the significance of January 26th and the varying perspectives surrounding the public holiday.
- Watch the spoken word poem 'Hate, he said' written and performed by Steven Oliver
- As a class read the SBS article "The many different dates we've celebrated Australia Day | Culture
Task
- Researching various primary and secondary sources of evidence online, create a visual timeline of the historical events which led to the January 26th public holiday in Australia.
- Share your findings with the class.
Reflection
- Were you surprised or challenged by any of the information on the timeline regarding the date or the reason for remembering it?
Historical Landmarks Lesson 2
- Watch episode 1 of Australian Wars on SBS OnDemand.
- Stop the program wherever necessary to clarify information or discuss points of interest or concepts that might be challenging.
Task
- In a yarning circle, facilitate a debrief about the film. Some questions to support the conversation are as follows: Were you challenged or interested in anything in the program? Have you heard about the Frontier Wars before today? What did you know about Aboriginal resistance during the British invasion before watching this film? Port Phillip, Phillip Island, Phillip Street in Sydney, the suburb of Phillip in Canberra and the Governor Phillip Tower building in Sydney, were all named after Captain Arthur Phillip. Research other place names which have been named after those involved in the Frontier Wars. Can you find any landmarks, street names, statues or parks named after First Nations people who fought in the war? Suggestions could include Bennelong, Pemulway and other Aboriginal warriors who defended their countries.
Reflection
- Why do you think there aren't many place names or landmarks named after First Nations leaders?
- Is there something you or your school community could do to honour First Nations peoples who died in the Frontier Wars?
Historical Landmarks Lesson 3
- Following on from the last lesson, read the articles below regarding place names and landmarks in Australia.
Racist Place Names in Australia to Be Wiped From Maps
Racist place names in Queensland's north to be wiped off maps - ABC News
- Listen to the first 30 minutes of Frontier War Stories episode 30 with Boe Spearim and Uncle Rodney Dillon Frontier War Stories
Task
- In groups of three or four, record any thoughts, feelings and facts about the articles and podcast.
Reflection
- Are there any place names or landmarks in your local area that may have been named after some of the atrocities that took place during the Frontier Wars?
- How could you find this out? How could you confirm this information's accuracy?
Historical Landmarks Lesson 4
- Following on from the last lesson, ask students to share their thoughts, feelings and facts regarding the articles and podcast.
TW: The following content comes with a trigger warning for all viewers, particularly First Nations peoples and students. Many of the places and landmarks listed in the activities have extraordinarily violent histories and this may cause distress to those engaging with the material.
Task
- In groups of two or three, using the list provided below, divide the place names so that students can research the reasons behind the naming of each place or landmark.
Boundary St
Mount Jim Crow
Cape Grim
Nigger Creek
Mount Wheeler
John Mackay
Murdering Creek
Marion Bay
Skull Hole
The Leap
Port Macquarie
- Some resources to support the research:
Colonial Frontier Massacres in Australia, 1788 - 1930
The Leap Mackay: Sign installed where woman plunged to her death | news.com.au
The Appin Massacre of April 17th 1816
Was John Mackay a blackbirder? | The Courier Mail
Blackbirding: Australia's history of luring, tricking and kidnapping Pacific Islanders - ABC News
Aboriginal boundary posts | State Library Of Queensland
Reflection
- Why do you think First Nations people and other Australians might find these place names offensive and distressing?
- Prior to colonisation, did any of the places you researched already have a name in the First Nations local language of the area? Are there any place names in your local community that have a racist history? How can you find out?
- Do you think there should be plaques next to any of these landmarks or statues to explain both sides of history?
