Pioneering Australians

Pioneering Australians have earned respect as artists, sportspeople, explorers, scientists and inventors. Others worked tirelessly for humanitarian or environmental causes or against unjust laws.

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

Douglas Mawson's scientific exploration of Antarctica

The Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911 to 1914) was the first Australian-led expedition to Antarctica.

Records

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

Record

Aboriginal activist and Australian of the Year Lowitja O'Donoghue

This black-and-white photograph shows a prominent Indigenous Australian, Lowitja ‘Lois’ O'Donoghue.
Record

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

This is a black-and-white photograph of Governor-General Sir John Kerr, awarding the Order of Australia to Aboriginal activist Vincent Lingiari in 1978.
Record

Aboriginal poet and activist Oodgeroo Noonuccal (formerly known as Kath Walker)

This black-and-white photograph shows Kath Walker, later known as Oodgeroo Noonuccal, an Aboriginal poet, artist, conservationist and political activist.
Record

Account of Australasian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson to Governor-General Lord Denman

This was the first regular wireless communication from the Australian base in Antarctica and was sent before it was confirmed that Mawson and the rescue party would not be collected by the Aurora.
Record

Activist Jessie Street

This is a passport photograph of Jessie Street, an internationally renowned Australian activist known for part of her life as 'Red Jessie'.
Record

Anti-war protest – report on the arrest of suffragette Adela Pankhurst

A letter sent by the crown solicitor to the secretary of the Attorney-General's Department about the conviction of Adela Pankhurst in Melbourne in 1917.
Record

Barrie Dexter with a copy of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act

This black-and-white photograph taken on 19 December 1976 shows a smiling Barrie Dexter, then Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
Record

Celebrations marking self-government for the Northern Territory

A photograph of a garden party held at Government House in Darwin, on 8 September 1978, celebrating the start of self-government for the Territory.

Pioneering Australians

Topics

Douglas Mawson's scientific exploration of Antarctica

Records

Aboriginal activist and Australian of the Year Lowitja O'Donoghue

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

Aboriginal poet and activist Oodgeroo Noonuccal (formerly known as Kath Walker)

Account of Australasian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson to Governor-General Lord Denman

Activist Jessie Street

Anti-war protest – report on the arrest of suffragette Adela Pankhurst

Barrie Dexter with a copy of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act

Celebrations marking self-government for the Northern Territory

Need help with your research?