Struggle for Indigenous Rights Timeline

By AmeliaMichael

  • Indigenous Australian’s Right to Vote

    Indigenous Australian’s Right to Vote
    From the first federal electoral Act in 1902 to 1965, when the last state changed its law, tens of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were allowed to vote at Federal at State elections.

  • Freedom Ride

    Freedom Ride
    In February 1965 a group of University of Sydney students organised a bus tour of western and coastal New South Wales towns. They hoped to point out and help to lessen discrimination between Aboriginal and white residents.

  • End of White Australia Policy

    End of White Australia Policy
    These changes to immigration policy were some of the most significant steps towards Indigenous people becoming for free to do things and be equal to White Australians.

  • Wave Hill Walk Off

    Wave Hill Walk Off
    On 23 August 1966, 200 Gurindji stockmen, domestic workers and their families initiated strike action at Wave Hill station in the Northern Territory.

  • Referendum

    Referendum
    In May 1967, after 10 years of campaigning, a referendum on Indigenous recognition in the Australian constitution was held. This made Indigenous citizens be recognised as second class citizen.

  • Mabo Decision

    Mabo Decision
    The High Court of Australia recognised that a group of Torres Strait Islanders, led by Eddie Mabo, held ownership of Mer (Murray Island). In acknowledging the traditional rights of the Meriam people to their land, the Court also held that native title existed for all Indigenous people.