The impact of colonial settlement on the environment

The animals and farming practices that Europeans brought to Australia, as well as industry and mining, have had a significant impact on the environment.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on the Australian continent for tens of thousands of years and they learned to respect and care for the fragile land.

When people from Britain and other parts of the world began settling in Australia from 1788, they found the environment very different to the lands they had left. The animals and farming practices they brought with them, as well as industry and mining, have had a significant impact on the environment.

Curriculum areas

Year 5 Geography
Year 5 History

Questions

In 1788, how was Australia‘s environment different to Britain’s?

Why do you think colonial settlers brought animals and crop seeds with them to Australia?

How have colonisation and modern technology affected the Australian environment?

Records

Record

Feller using a chainsaw to fell a 150-foot karri

Preparation work to fell a karri tree

This is a colour photograph of a tree feller using a chainsaw to fell a 150-foot (45-metre) karri tree in Western Australia in 1966.

Record

Sheep grazing in Kempton, Tasmania

This colour photograph shows sheep grazing in the Kempton district of Tasmania.

Record

Wheat harvesting in Wimmera, Victoria

This is a black-and-white photograph showing wheat being harvested with machinery in Wimmera, Victoria in 1959.

Record

Burrinjuck Dam in New South Wales during the 1968 drought

This black-and-white photograph shows a man’s felt hat lying upright on the parched, cracked earth of the empty Burrinjuck Dam.

Record

Detonating explosives at an open-cut mine.

Mining iron ore at Mount Tom Price

A photograph of Mount Tom Price open-cut mine showing detonation of explosives.

Record

Detail of rabbits gathered around a water hole.

Rabbits around a waterhole during myxomatosis trial

This black-and-white photograph, taken in 1938, shows a group of rabbits at Wardang Island, South Australia.