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Federation
The six self governing colonies collectively became the states of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Commonwealth Constitution states in reckoning the numbers of people. Aboriginal natives shall not be counted. It also states that the Commonwealth would legislate for any race except Aboriginal people. The states therefore retain their power over Aboriginal Affairs. -
Conference
At a conference of state and federal officials called by the Federal Government, assimilation for some Aboriginal people is adopted as official policy. Part Aboriginal people are to be assimilated into white society whether they want to be or not. Aboriginal people not living a tribal life are to be educated and all others are to stay on reserves. June, William Ferguson, the Aborigines Progressive Association, after officials of the Board had used their powers to harass Aboriginal people. -
Day of Mourning Protest
150 years after European occupation, the Aboriginal Progressive Association declares a Day of Mourning. An Aboriginal Conference is held in Sydney. These are the first of many Aboriginal protests against inequality, injustice, dispossession of land and protectionist policies. For the Europeans celebration of 150 years of settlement in NSW, Aborigines are trucked to Sydney to take part in the reenactment of the British landing. Aboriginals were threatened with hunger if they don't do their role. -
Protest at Cumeroogunga
Protest at Cumeroogunga, NSW, over malnutrition and ill treatment. The Aborigines Protection Board in South Australia is established. As a result of the 1937 conference Queensland passes legislation allowing Aboriginal people to receive workers compensation. Also as a result of this conference a Native Affairs Branch is set up in the Northern Territory. -
Aboriginal Education
The first formal education for Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory is given. Less facilities was rationalised by the claim that kids over the age of 10 couldn't keep up with white kids anyway. Aboriginal children assimilate into NSW local schools, if all other parents didn't disagree. This right of veto is removed in 1960. -
Aboriginal Flag
The Australian Aboriginal Flag was designed by artist Harold Thomas and first flown at Victoria Square in Adelaide, South Australia, on National Aborigines Day, 12 July 1971. -
The Freedom Rides
The Freedom Ride of 1965 was a important event in all of history of civil rights for Indigenous Australians. Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the American Civil Rights Movement, pupils from the University of Sydney created a group called the Student Action for Aborigines (SAA), followed on by Charles Perkins among others and went into New South Wales country towns on what some of them considered a fact-finding mission. -
Gurindji People
On 23 August 1966, 200 Aboriginal stockmen of the Gurindji people and their families walked off Wave Hill pastoral station, 600 kms south of Darwin in the Northern Territory, owned by a British aristocrat Lord Vestey. Led by Vincent Lingiari, a community elder. The camp moved before the wet season of that year and in 1967 the Gurindji Aboriginal people settled some 30 kilometres from Wave Hill Station at Wattie Creek, in the heart of their traditional land, near a site of cultural significance. -
Tent Embassy
This political action was initiated and implemented by Aboriginal activists. The site became known as the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. It was a powerful symbol. The original owners of the land set up an embassy opposite the parliament, as if they were foreigners. This act showed the strength of their sense of alienation. They were landless. Their embassy was a tent, a well understood image of poverty and impermanence. Their camp attracted unprecedented support from people across the country. -
Sorry Speech
'Sorry' apology to Stolen Generations. On February 13th, 2008, Aboriginal people across all Australia were deeply moved and in tears: The Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, had finally apologised to the Stolen Generations and said 'sorry'. The Stolen Generations were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian Federal and State government agencies and churches, under acts of their respective parliaments. -
Th Referendum
The Australian referendum of 27 May 1967, called by the Holt Government, approved two amendments to the Australian constitution relating to Indigenous Australians. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginals) 1967, which became law on 10 August following the results of the referendum. These amendments altered sections 51 and 127 having the quick effect of having Aboriginals in resolutions of population and also charge the Parliament to congress for the racial group.