-
Australia first colonised by British settlers
-
Australia labelled as 'Nobody's Land'
-
Mabo discovers he does not own Murray Island land
-
A land rights conference is held at James Cook University
-
Mabo and others make legal claim for ownership of their lands
-
Queensland Parliament passes the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act
-
The High Court finds the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act contravenes section 10 of the Federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975, and is therefore invalid
-
Mabo's family denied into Thursday Island
Although Mabo's family had the intention to visit Mabo's dying father they were denied entry into Murray Island -
Mabo dies of cancer
-
The High Court rejects the notion of terra nullius and recognises the Meriam people as the native title holders of traditional lands on Murray Island
-
Native Title Act is tabled in Federal Parliament
-
Parliament enacts the Native Title Act 1993.
-
Native Title Act (NTA) commences operation, National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) established and Native Title Representative Bodies (NTRBs) recognised in law.
-
Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund established.
-
High Court in Western Australia v. Commonwealth rejects Western Australia's constitutional challenge to the Native Title Act
-
The first resolution of a native title claim for mainland Australia involving the Dunghutti people of Crescent Head and the New South Wales government
-
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation formed
-
Howard Government releases Amended Wik ten point plan foreshadowing major amendments to the NTA
-
amendments and a compromise agreement between the government and Senator Brian Harradine, the Native Title Amendment Act 1998 is passed
-
High Court confirms that the grant of freehold extinguishes native title in Fejo v Northern Territory
-
Bonita Mabo, calls for a national public holiday on the anniversary of the High Court's decision