Rights and freedoms

First Australians have long fought for equal rights and opportunities. Influential individuals and campaigns drove change in areas such as voting rights, constitutional change and land rights.

Topics

A topic is a collection of records with interpretation and inquiry questions. Each topic is aligned to the Australian Curriculum and focuses on an aspect of Australian history.

Topic

First Australians' land rights

When Captain Cook claimed eastern Australia for the King of Great Britain in 1770, it was not acknowledged that the land had already been inhabited by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for tens of thousands of years.
Topic

Notable First Australians

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made significant contributions to the Australian community across a wide range of areas.
Topic

Referendums and changing Australia’s constitution

The Australian people vote on proposed changes to the constitution at a referendum.
Topic

The 1967 referendum

In a referendum held on 27 May 1967, Australians voted to remove references in the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Records

Each record focuses on a single item from the National Archives' collection. Some records contain extra information to help you interpret them.

Announcement

Rights and freedoms

Topics

First Australians' land rights

Notable First Australians

Referendums and changing Australia’s constitution

The 1967 referendum

Records

1967 Referendum results - Prime Minister Harold Holt responds in press release

1967 Referendum – Western Australian ballot paper

Aboriginal activist Vincent Lingiari receives the Order of Australia from Governor-General Sir John Kerr

Aboriginal rights demonstration at Old Parliament House

Aboriginal serviceman Douglas Grant

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