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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
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
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
Collection guide
Ferguson Collection

Over 32,000 items, including rare books, pamphlets, maps, and ephemera, covering topics such as Oceania, transport, and literature. Compiled by Sir John Alexander Ferguson, it is a key resource for Australian history and bibliography.

Collection guide
A colour pencil hand drawing of Murray Island with hand written notes.

Bryan Keon-Cohen, Greg McIntyre,  Queensland Supreme Court and Australia High Court, Papers of Bryan Keon-Cohen [manuscript] : the Mabo case, 1981-2000, 1981, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-224077217

Edward Koiki Mabo

Topic

In 1992, a decade-long legal battle over Indigenous land rights came to an end.

Digital Classroom
First Australians
Three pieces of ephemera from the 2023 Referendum

A selection of publicly donated referendum items in our collection.

Donate your 2023 Referendum campaign material

We're calling on you to help us collect campaign material from the 2023 Referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Blog
Deadly Dialogues
Deadly Dialogues: Photographers in conversation

A conversation of First Nations photographers with Uncle Mervyn Bishop, Prof. Wayne Quilliam, Aunty Barbara McGrady, Tiffany Garvie, Michael Jalaru Torres, and Tamati Smith.

Event
Video
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
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
A watercolor painting showing a central elongated figure resembling a fish or marine mammal, with a grid-like pattern. Above the main figure, three smaller, simpler outlines of turtles are sketched. The background consists of soft, earthy tones and textured brushstrokes.

William Westall, Chasm Island, native cave painting, 1803, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-138890494

Connections to Country

Topic 

Explore early European encounters with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art through the work of William Westall and engage students in considering the cultural significance of special places.

Digital Classroom
First Australians
A detailed drawing of various hunting implements and weapons. The illustration includes spears, shields, boomerangs, clubs, and other tools, arranged in a grid-like pattern on a plain background. Each item is depicted with precise lines and shading, with some labelled using letters A and B.

Port Jackson Painter, Aboriginal hunting implements and weapons, 1790, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135230406

Changing technology

Topic 

Explore how food production and gathering methods have evolved over time, using artworks and photographs from our collection.

Digital Classroom
First Australians
Two men hug and another man shakes one of their hands

Juno Gemes, Countrymen, elders from Arakun and Mornington Island greeting each other before a ceremony, Mornington Island, Queensland, 1978, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147616168

Bringing Them Home oral history project

Between 1998 and 2002, people from all over Australia told us their stories as part of the Bringing Them Home oral history project.

First Australians
Information article

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