First Australians | National Library of Australia (NLA)

First Australians

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Digital Classroom: Teaching resources
First contacts

Module

Explore the themes of discovery, cultural encounters, and the European settlement of Australia. 

Digital Classroom
First Australians
A handwritten diary entry in an old fashioned script.

George Thomson, Diary entry for Tuesday 26 May 1868, Diary of George Thomson, 1868-1869, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3308197449

Indigenous Australian cricket team touring England in the 1860s

Australians have often gone to great lengths to see their favourite sporting teams, even back in the 1860s!

First Australians
News article
A fire burning on sand with a night sky behind it
Deadly Dialogues: Karlie Noon and Celeste Carnegie

Astrophysicist and author Karlie Noon held a conversation with Celeste Carnegie discussing the astronomic heritage of Noon's Kamilaroi Peoples and her journey as an ambassador for youth and astronomy.

Event
First Australians
Video
Vincent Lingiari and two other men seated

Michael Jensen, Vincent Lingiari at Wattie Creek [(Daguragu), Northern Territory] when they had water on tap, 1977, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137086604

First Australians collections

We hold a diverse range of material, offering a rich interpretation of Australia's past and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

First Australians
Information article
Cover of the book 'If Everyone Cared Enough'
If Everyone Cared Enough

Margaret Tucker MBE

Book
First Australians
NLA Publishing book
Indigenous people next to a river

William Habgood & C. Grellett, Scene on Melville Water near Perth, Western Australia, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135263049

First Australians language collections

Explore manuscripts and records that give a glimpse into the approximately 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

First Australians
Research guide
Two images side by side. The image on the left is the front cover of the book 'If Everyone Cared Enough', and the image on the right is a portrait of an elderly Aboriginal women in a green shawl.
Book Launch: If Everyone Cared Enough by Margaret Tucker

A celebration of Margaret Tucker's life and work

Event
First Australians
Video
ATDW_Deadly Dialogues
Deadly Dialogues: Joe Williams and Alethea Beetson

Joe Williams and Dr Alethea Beetson in conversation as part of our Deadly Dialogues series.

Event
First Australians
Video
Finding australian literature - sams bush journey

Morgan, Sally and Kwaymullina, Ezekiel, Sam's Bush Journey, Surry Hills, N.S.W. : Little Hare Books, 2009

Australian literature: Indigenous

How to find information about Indigenous literature

First Australians
Research guide
Red tile
Indigenous music

The Library has a small but significant collection of Indigenous music. This includes music both written by Indigenous people and interpreted by Europeans from interactions with Indigenous people.

First Australians
Research guide
A sepia-toned book cover with a faint handwritten text background features a historic image of people holding protest signs.

Bain Attwood and Andrew Markus, The 1967 referendum race, power and the Australian Constitution, 2007, nla.gov.au/catalog/3966879

1967 Referendum research guide

Access key resources from the Library's collection related to the lead-up to the 1967 referendum, the significance of the historic 'Yes' vote, and its ongoing legacy in the pursuit of justice, equality, and recognition for First Australians.

First Australians
Research guide
Six women smiling as they play football. One has just kicked the ball.

Darren Clark, The Stronger Sisters playing football at the Tennant Creek football Grand Final, 2011, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-152960442

First Nations and sport

First Nations people participated in sports long before Australian Federation.

First Australians
Research guide

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