Non indigenous relationships

Early Explorers• Perceptions: fascinated by the new environments that they saw. Saw

Australia as a place of magnificent coastlines, vast landscapes, unusual vegetation's and exotic animals. Acknowledged that they animals were like none they had ever seen. They saw it as a dream come true – scientist and explorers

• Interactions (land Uses): would go out and draw animals and plants. They would travel long distances and record what they would find. Often parties contained a variety of professionals. They would then send this information back to England to mixed reviews.

• Relationships: used the land to find out more about this unique environment, may have had impacts dependant of party size and transportation, didn’t settle in areas.

Perceptions: Saw the environment as harsh, hostile and

wild, but to do this they needed to tame the land, Saw the land as a means to survive and make ends meet, wanted to change it to be like Europe

Early Settlers

Farming: crowded paddocks with livestock. Hard hoofed animals compacted the soil and had damaging effect on water sources. Sheep grazed the land aggressively (ate entire plants – leaving little chance for regermination). Deep-rooted perennial grasses disappeared. Shallow rooted grasses replaced these and resulted in topsoil erosion.

Introduced species: introduced sheep, cattle, goats and pigs for farming; rabbits, dogs and foxes for hunting; horses for work and songbirds for profit and pleasure. They also introduced a large number of plants to make the environment look like home.

Sealing and whaling: began in 1788 for international trade and use of blubber. This was as an unsustainable industry due to no management. Almost wiped out entire colonies along the south coast of Victoria (including Wilson’s Prom)

Had very little understanding of aboriginal land management strategies

Large areas were cleared for permanent settlements

Settlements were built close to water sources (IMPACTED)

Indigenous people were forced to leave or work as servants

Based a lack of understanding of the unique environment – rather than total misuse. They could not see the impacts that they were making

Based around agricultural yield;

Relationship

Increased Population• Environment seen as providing an opportunity to gain wealth

fast by using the resources that it provided. Commodities were targeted with little regard for the impacts on the environment, the environment was very much a resource to be used and exploited for profit.

• Interactions:• Gold Rush sites in Gippsland• Wahalla, Foster etc. • Large population increases, towns built around settlements (what

impacts?) and infrastructure, food and services were in greater demand

• Rail links were established (impacts?)• Gold mining: land cleared, excavation, roads and shafts, towns

(impacts)• Land clearing for farming, housing, crops, mining with no

restrictions• Timber was in huge demand• Irrigation channels were made – further extension of farming• As time past adapted to suit Australian environment and became

Australian rather than colonists • Change is uses by artists (discuss) inspiration was evident in works

and depicted the environment as it was

Increased population• Relationships:• To make money

• Impacts of interactions

IndustrialisationPerceptions: The environment could be used to feed,

house, employ and provide energy for the growing population

That the environment was a resource That the environment needed to be

protected Beginning of the view that the

environment was a place for recreation

Interactions State Coal mine – provision of jobs and

energy Bushwalking club of Vic Start of the coastal relationship that we

have now First National parks Industry – boomed after the first world war Beginning of Australia as a nation – change

in perceptions

Relationship Economic value Beginning of a mixed relationship Resource Based on export and imports Development Beginning of conservation Worth-ship

Nation BuildingThe environment was perceived in terms of constructing a national identity

Resource and appreciation – mixed perception. There was a mixed perception of the land, that it needs to be protected and managed by our government. But that we also have to use the environment as a resource.

Start of our perception of the environment as a place for recreation – Skiing an example to use

Beginning with developing a strong appreciation of the natural environment – family holidays etc.

InteractionsSRHS

Major Roads

Irrigation Pathways

Solider settlements

Man made dams – Glenmaggie

RelationshipBuilding national identity

Mixed relationship

Recreation and appreciation

signs of development were becoming obvious. People realised that they had to make changes to the way that they used natural resources.

Public awareness grew by the 1950’s due to the awareness of the need to protect our natural resources. A gradual changed occurred during this time frame. Whilst old land management strategies are still used there is an increasing awareness of the value of the environment.

We have begun to appreciate and celebrate our uniqueness, diversity and character of the environment. Many Australians see themselves as conservers or protectors of the natural environment, there are also Australian’s that see the environment as a resource for short-term gain or who believe that development is necessary.