Australia, up until 1788 had been inhabited for over 100,000 years by the Aboriginies. The indigenous inhabitants, having a rich range of diverse cultures within their own, had evolved on the continent in isolation, living a nomadic or subsistent life style depended on the environmental conditions prevailing and their "tie" with the land in which they resided. The "socialistic" culture of Australia' s indigenous people was governed by the environment and geography of the continent. The result was a society that impacted minimally on the environment. It devoloped a sense of community that included ideas of justice, welfare and arbitration. The arrival of western society and all it brings, including its need to dominate on the "spiritual" level, meant the end for the ageless lifestyle for the indigenous inhabitants. The socialistic flavour engendered by the Australian geography, climate and environment could be then said to evolve and was absorbed into the development of the Anglo Saxon systems of government practice. The above mentioned ideals of justice, welfare and arbitration are unique and are central focus within Australian politics and in social programming. The attitude of "she'll be right mate" is more Aboriginal than Anglo Saxon, in its outlook and philosophy. The point I am trying to make here is, that irrespective of those who inhabit the continent of Australia, the "Land" itself defines its own attitude, spirit and idealism in those who live on its shores. Forty days of constant sunshine and 100 degree heat soon tells you the European work ethic doesnt work as well here and you don't have to store bulk for winter! Australia, especially before "white mans " arrival was a land of abundance (and still is), hunting and gathering did not preoccupy seven days of the week. Europeans bringing this "old world mentality" with them to the new land soon found themselves in conflict with their environment or changing the old values they once held.
The European discovery of Australia happened during the 16th and 17th centuries trade expansion by Portugal, Spain and Holland. In 1606, an explorer Luis Vaez de Torres sailed through the straits that separate Australia and Papua New Guinea. The same year as Torres sailed through the straits named after him, a dutch explorer Willem Jansz also found the strait and landed on the Australian Continent. Though not knowing his feat and giving the land an unfavourable report on its overall environment, the word was spreading of a place called "New Holland". The expansion of the Dutch East Indies Trading Company brought the Dutch ships closer and closer to Australian shores. In 1616 another explorer Dirk Hartog landed at Shark Bay in Western Australia and his reference point would be used by Dutch Captains for the next 100 years. In 1688 an English pirate, William Dampier, found his way to modern day Derby on Australia's west coast and English interest was awakened.
William Dampier
(English Pirate, Explorer)
On 20 April 1770, Ltnt. James Cook (later Captain) in the employ of the British Royal Navy sighted the east coast of Australia while on a voyage with scientists and botanists comissioned to observe the transition of Venus across the Sun. Cook was also asked to investigate the area known as "Great South Land" for the interests of the King. Approaching the unexplored eastern seabord he and his crew were the first to see the vastness of the unknown continent. Sailing from the South to the North along the east coast, he landed at Botany Bay, near modern day Sydney, a week after the first landsighting. The area offered an abundant variety of botanical specimens for the scientists aboard, in particular botanist Joseph Banks. Cook returned home via Torres' 165 year old route through the straits (Torres Strait) between Australia and New Guinea. On his return he reported of the favourable conditions he had found and the extent of land that seemed to follow a massive coastline which he chartered by sea for days on end.
The American War of Independence forced Britain to look for a new penal colony to release pressure on the British prison system filling up rapidly with prisoners. With the favourable reports from Cook's voyage it was decided that "the Great south Land" would be the new "penal colony" for Britain. The lack of information on Australia in these times did not stop some enthusiastic sailors from taking the journey and the convicts hardly had a choice. So, in May 1787 a fleet of 11 ships sailed from England under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip and arrived at Botany Bay on January 18th 1788, with aproximately 1500 people and began a new life in a strange new land. The original site of area Cook's landing looked devoid of good conditions for settlement, so a decision was made to look for a more favourable landsite. Sailing into a river mouth just north, they resettled a few kilometres away at Port Jackson. Here there was fresh water and better soil for crops allowing some form of subsistence. This is the site of Sydney, Australia’s largest city.
Captain James Cook
Within days of Sydney being established, Captain Phillip, as pre ordained by King George the III was made Governor of New South Wales and his word was law. He was a frail, honest man. With only little resources surviving the epic voyage he set about at once in trying to make the early colony subsistent. He was well aware that the re supply of the colony with provisions from England could not be expected for some time. He also had the trouble of an immediate "class system" that still has some perculiar flow down effects to modern times. With the convicts, their overseers and just a handful of free settlers it was easy to define each social rank amongst the inhabitants of Sydney Cove. Basically there was an employers and employee's class that would expand to the 20 million+ we have here living in Australia today. In those early few days of the colony there was an immediate need to survive. A policy of socialism though not defined as this term at the time, was really the only method the small society could maintain to keep its tenuous foothold in Australia. All members relied on each other. The convicts relied on the overseers for food and protection from the environment and sometimes "hostiles natives". The overseers and settlers relied on the convicts for labour, supply and distribution.
Many of the convicts that had been sent for "transportation" were sent for very minor offences and some of the men and woman had skills vital to the colony including farming, brickmaking, garmentmaking, horsetraining etc. Some convicts through their skills were able to gain special privelages including land and pardons from the Governor. An air of incentive was created that made motivation towards growth a social ideal. This ethic still flows strong today. In saying this, there were also a number of hardened criminals in the colony and though suicidal as it was, some men ran away into the "bush". Some never to return, some were found killed by Aborigines, some even returned to tell of their terror before being flogged by the NSW Corp or sent to Pinchgut Island (Fort Denison) to live on "rations". The convicts were overseen by members of a group of soldiers hired in England for the journey known as the "New South Wales Corp". These men, mercenaries from all parts of the Commonwealth were opportunists and mercenary by nature. It would be they who would eventually "run" the early colony up to the arrival of Governor Macquarie in 1810. Many of the "corps" men, would also by the time of Macquarie, be the landholders and stakeholders in Sydney Town. In turn this also awakened interest in London with news of some of the profits possible in the antipodes.
Captain Arthur Phillip
(First Governor of New South Wales)
The colony up to 1810 had grown to a population of aprox. 10,000 people but not without crisis on the way. By the time Phillip returned to Britain in 1793, the colony had nearly starved a number of times from failed crops and lack of supplies and those supplies that did arrive having mostly perished en route. Though things got "tight" and morale in the early colony ebbed and flowed like the passing harbour tides, the colony's foothold and infrastructure began to create a cycle of self sufficiency. Though the economy was based on rum and corruption of the judicial processes prevailed, a certain stability was being "enforced". It was surely a requirement for a time when freedom was but a 100 yard dash away. The chance to rob or steal or murder came regularly. With no means of resource for chasing or tracking the perpetrators down in the wilderness, men could escape but the risks were high. After Phillip's departure in 1793 the New South Wales Corp (or the "rum corp" as they were known) took reign of the colony through the next succession of Governor's John Hunter and Phillip King who had been First Fleet arrivals. Naturally they were somewhat bias to the overseers. Thus from Phillip's departure, little was or could be done to curb the monopolies or price controlling. The arrival of Governor Bligh (ex Capt Bligh of the Bounty) brought things to a confrontation. The major player in the NSW Corp at the time and a noted landholder/pastoralist John Macarthur had Bligh arrested in the Governor Generals own home, the embarassed Bligh, as legend has it, was found under his bed. Both Bligh and Macarthur returned to England, the former ending his career with a promotion and a pension. The latter providing Britain with a "colonial carrot". Macarthur revealed a new method of breeding sheep (eventually the Merino) and expounded to the gentry the wisdom of financial speculation in the growing town of Sydney.
The arrival of Lachlan Macquarie in December 1809 with his own command, a Scottish Regiment well disciplined and experienced campaigners bought an end to the power of the "rum corp". Though he disbanded the "corp" its old members would from then on always be a thorn in Macquarie's side, especially the fortunate and manipulative Macarthur. The New South Wales Corp ceased to exist for two reasons. Its members had moved into more lucrative careers and were getting older and lazier. Also, even in their prime the New South Wales Corp could not attempt to challenge the fire power of Macquaire and his Regiment. Governor Macquarie's reign of 12 years was the Governorship period that would make the progress required to define Australia. His strength, fairness and foresight would make Sydney endure as a major city. More to his credit, he created an environment for a nation to develop as the other locations around the country became established and populated. He ensured these new settlements came into line with some colonial consitency as Sydney. He encouraged exploration so communication links with other territories could be established. He pardoned many convicts and provided major avenues for them to use their skills in building the colony. He had many buildings built that still stand as Australian icons today. He encouraged free traders to settle, a free press, the grants of land for cultivation and the building of many roads to satelite settlements that were beginning develop around the main centre of Sydney.
Lachlan Macquarie
(5th Governor of New South Wales)
By Macquarie's departure in 1821 the population of Sydney stood at 40,000 and an enduring infrastructure had been built. In Sydney as far as roads, buildings, sewrage and water were concerned, the evolution was very haphazard. Sydney to this day still suffers the affect of this lack of planning in the early colony. The inner city especially, where buildings and roadways are part of the very early settlement area. Macquarie noted this and immediately tried to create some order in relation to planning in the rapidly expanding chaos of the settlement.
Many free convicts and supporters of convict "rehabilitation" known as "emancipationists" found an ally in Macquarie. The established free settlers and "pensioned" NSW Corp officers resented him for his favourable treatment of convicts and their supporters. The hostile Macarthur noted "Macquarie was even of spending his spare time with people of this ilk". There was a natural tendancy by unscrupulous landowners to exploit convict labour and many fortunes were made doing just that. John Macarthur who clashed with Macquarie many times was a paradox of a man. This soldier taught himself farming and developed the merino variety of wool that would carry Australia into the future as far exports were concerned. He treated convicts well and encouraged the same sort of "hope" to those willing to work hard, as the Governor practiced. He was a manipulator and a consumate "materialist" and entertained a certain meglomania in all he did. But he was undeniably fair with his workers and in his business dealings and his hard working efforts were definately a long term positive for Australia's growth.
Macarthur's eventual manouvering brought Macquarie's call back to Britain. Dying just 3 years later, a broken and shattered man. In his homeland he was never to be recognised for his efforts in New South Wales. The tragedy was Macquarie, himself, knew his achievement, but was denied any honour from his peers and those who employed him to goto Australia. To the people of New South Wales and Australia Lachlan Macquarie is etched into lore, symbols in the way of buildings, statues, names of streets, towns, rivers, places of all types remind us that in Macquarie's time Australia came of age. A foothold became a massive salient that was to leave in no doubt Australia's soveriegnty in a time when Imperialist machinations were taking place all over Europe. The best tribute to Macquarie came on his departure from Sydney in 1821. With the harbour lined with colonial folk of all dispositions wishing him farewell. The Sydney Gazette wrote at the time: ........."Australia saw her benefactor for the last time treading her once uncivilised, unsocial shores. The parent and child must endure the parting pang and Australia can not repine at the varied events that time brings about, for time has wrought vast and beneficial changes in her midst."
With Macquarie's departure came also a new Governor. Ralph Darling naturally brought a new way of doing things. The older more conservative Sydney landholders tried to restore some of the more disciplinary aspects to convict transportation and resettlement that Macquarie had been thought somewhat moderate. Convict transportation, which was still continuing all through this time (and in other regions of Australia) was seen to be a cheap labour source for speculators. Any attempt to return to the old days of the New South Wales Corps would be futile as by this time other settlements and colonies were growing all around the continent and monopolies and price fixing became more difficult with outside competition. The establishment of these new centres were firstly for the transportation of convicts (except Adelaide). They followed similar patterns as Sydney and each area having particular environments condusive to a variety of diverse industries. With the discovery of new resources for exploitation new stakeholders came to play in Australia's development.
Hobart in Tasmania had its settlement established in 1803, the Brisbane River (Brisbane) in Queensland in 1824, the Swan River (Perth) in Western Australia in 1829, at Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne) in Victoria in 1835, and the Gulf of St Vincent (Adelaide) South Australia in 1836. Canberra was selected specifically to be the Nations Capitol and was designed by American Walter Burley-Griffen early in the 20th century.
The period between 1820 and 1850 was period of consolidation for the economy, the social structure, the political and judicial structures. It was a time to explore the continent and define its boundaries and internal geography. To this many gave their lives and tales of heroism and naievity prevail in Australia folklore of these explorers. Their efforts mapped the huge tracts of land and the river systems vital to any agicultural expansion. Geographical "perils" and "paradises" were discovered and mapped, making way for settlement.
The goldrush on the Victorian goldfields of Bendigo and Ballarat in the 1850's brought a massive influx of free settlers and immigrants to Australia. There was a population boom that intermingled many of the cultures that had converged to the "rush" from all over the world. In 1868 convict transportation ceased in Western Australia the only state that still had convicts being sent to it in Australia. By the 1880's the national population had grown considerably and had taken on its own vague but unique Australian identity. The commencement of a self determining and national political system was beginning to take shape in the minds of the thinkers and statesman all around the country. For 20 years the momentum grew for a federal system of government. A series of debates between Federalists and Royalists, finally gave way to the inevitable. The The Australian Constitution was formulated and Federation "passed" by the Queen for its commencement on the 1st January 1901. Australia had begun!
The establishment of this eastern bastion of English democracy, western speech and thinking was to be at the expense of the original indigenous people, the Aboriginie. In Tasmania and all around the country, acts took place that are so barbaric that Australian schoolbooks miraculously seem to make no reference to them. This is only one form of national denial to our pioneering past. The process was not changed until the 1960's, thus most of the current population have had to be the genre to deal with the implications of recognising a people that were not "recognised" by our forefathers. This putting most Australians in an indefencable position, especially those who consider the overall attitude towards indigenous affairs by our pioneering and "well meaning" forefathers as completely wrong and in some cases just downright material greed. Though attempts from the 1970's up to now have been noble to amend the effects of the previous history of murder, displacement, intolerance and injustice. This legacy is one of the few negatives Australia faces as it moves into the 21st Century.
The effect of western influence has had positive and negative effects on the land of Australia. In saying this, Australia was the last western nation to develop and it was inevitable that western culture would catch up with Australia and its indigenous inhabitants. This aside, the last 200 or so years have been nothing short of a miraculous effort considering the populations of Australia's surrounding neighbours. The comparative infrastructures developed over the same time period bear witness to Australia's achievements. To this end Australia has positioned itself well. With a complexed and solid infrastructure that makes it a good investment to foreigners and it is also strategically positioned in the rapidly growing Pacific Rim region. It has a stable and democratic political system. It is a nation not beset with huge social problems (though there are some smaller ones). The country has great natural resource and beauty that provide for growth and productivity.
Todays Political Structure and Links
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