History timeline

2006-Jan-28

1788. The First Fleet of British convicts, soldies and officals arrives. On January 26th, Captain Arthur Phillip raises the Union Jack at Sydney Cove and the invasion begins.

Aboroiginal population is estimated between 750,000 to one million at the time,Captain Phillip estimates 1,500 Aborigines are living in Sydney region.

Resistance and conflict between Europeans and Aboriginal people beings almost immediately.

In early Febuary the Freanch fire on Aboriginal people at Botany Bay.

Governor phillip travelled to prospect Hill in April.

On the 29th of May,the first conflict beween the First Fleet arrivals and Aborigines takes place near Rushcutters Bay, Sydney.Two convicts are killed.

In December the first Darug young man,( Arobanoo) was kidnapped, chained by the wrist and guarded by a trusted convict. This was the first kidnapping of an Aborigine in the Sydney region and it was a tactic which continued to be used by later Governors.

1789. A smallpox epidemic wipes out at least half of the Sydney's Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people have no resistance to European diseases and even the common cold is fatal.

1790. Pemulwuy and his son Tedbury launch a guerrilla style campaing of Aboriginal resistance which lasted several years. In Hawkesbury River area, Marial law is declared time and again, but on occasion settlers are told to protect their property. Offical records speak of a "campaign of terror" to crush resistance.

1791. Convicts who had served their time are granted land around Parramatta.

In February, Governor Phillip grants land to 13 people at Prospect Hill.these were the first land grants in the Blacktwon District.

1792. Colonists spread to Prospect Hill, Kissing Point, Northern Boundary, the Pondsand the Field of Mars.

1794. by August, 70 colonists are faming along the Hawkesbury, dispossessing local Aborigines of their land.

1795. Open warfare breaks out along the Hawkesbury River between Aborigines and Government troops.

1797. Pemulwuy leads the George's River and Parramatta clans in an attack on the settlement at Toongabbie. A punitiveparty pursue Pemulwuy and about 100 Aborigines to Parramatta. Pemulwuy is wounded and captured, but later escapes.

1798 Colonists dispossess Aborigines of land around George's River Flats and Bankstown.

1800 The white population in Sydney is estimated to be around 8,000 compared to 1,000 in 1788. There were 16 whites living in the Blacktown area.

1801 John Macarthur buys 1770 acres at Seven Hills

1802 On June 30th a proclamation is made stating: " His Majesty forbids any act of injustice or wanton crueity to the natives, yet the settler is not to suffer his property to be invaded or his existence endangered by them, in preserving which is his he is to use the effectual, but at the same time the most humane means of resisting such attacks" Shortly after this Pemulwuy is shot by two settlers. Tedbury continues the resistance.

1804 Most of the Cumberland Plain west of Sydney is occupied by colonists. The Darug people are being dispossessed of their land. The Battle of Vinegar Hill was fought at Rouse Hill on the 5th March. Convicts escaping from the Castle Hill barracks clashed with Government troops under Major George Johnson, declaring themslves to be for 'Liberty or Death' the convicts were easily defeated and died in the battle or its aftermath. One year after the British flag is raised in Tasmania, settlers are authorised to shoot unarmed Aboriginal people. Beginning of the Black War.

1805 Aborignes try to defend their land and kill coloists. Captain William Bligh issues an order to send solders "for their colonists protection against those uncivilised insurgents"

1813 Colonists assisted by Aborignal people cross the Blue Mountains. New hostilities develop as they pass through Aboriginal lands.

1814 Governor Macquarie sets up the first Native Institution at Parramatta. It is a dormitory school where Aboriginal children can be educated away from the influence of their families and clans society. No one asked if the children would like to go they were taken from their families.

1815 Remnants of the Broken Bay Aboriginal people are established on a reserve at George's Head. The Native Institution opened at Parramatta.

1816 Aboriginal people attack farms at the edge of Sydney and Governor Macquarie sends Captain James Wallis with three detachments of the 76th Regiment to arrest offenders. They attack a camp near Appin at night and 14 Aboriginaes are killed. Macquarie announces a set of regulations controlling the free movement of Aborignal people. No Aboriginal person is to appear armed within a mile of any settlement and no more than six Aboriginal people are allowed to lurk or loiter near farms. Passports or certificates are issued to Aboriginal people "who conduct themselves in a suitable manner" to show they are officially acepted by Europeans. Five areas are set aside by Macquarie as agriculture reserves for the settlement of Aboriginal people from the Sydney area. The Aboriginal people who settle on these lands are given seed,tools,stores and clothes for six months. Convicts are assigned to help with cultivation of crops.

1819 On 31st August Governor Macquarie states that Aboriginal people should be given land, but few received it. Land was granted to Colebee and Nurrangingy in the Blacktown area.

1820 The Native Institute known as Blacks Town was built at Plumpton to assimilate the Aborigines into European ways.