The World's
Oldest Living Culture
Oldest Living Culture
Who were the first people to live in Australia?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
How did First Nations people get their food before European settlement?
By hunting, fishing and gathering plants and other natural foods.
What is the name of the important archaeological site in New South Wales?
Lake Mungo
What is a penal colony?
A settlement used to exile, contain, and rehabilitate convicted prisoners.
Approximately how long have Aboriginal people lived in Australia?
More than 65,000 years.
Why did many Aboriginal groups move throughout the year (nomadic)?
To follow seasonal food sources and care for Country.
What are the names of the ancient Aboriginal human remains discovered at Lake Mungo?
Mungo Lady and Mungo Man
What problem were Britain's prisons facing in the late 1700s?
They were overcrowded with too many prisoners.
What does the term Country mean to many Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people?
Country refers to the land, waterways, skies, plants, animals and the spiritual connection they have with their ancestors and place.
How was knowledge passed from one generation to the next?
Through storytelling, ceremonies, songs, dance and oral traditions.
Approximately how old are the remains found at Lake Mungo?
Around 40,000 years old.
Why could Britain no longer send convicts to America?
After the American War of Independence, Britain lost the American colonies and could no longer transport prisoners there.
Why did Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people develop many different languages and cultures across Australia?
Different groups lived in different environments across Australia for thousands of years, developing their own languages, traditions and customs.
Why were Dreaming stories important?
They taught laws, beliefs, history, cultural knowledge and connections to Country.
What do the discoveries at Lake Mungo tell us about Aboriginal history?
That Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for at least 40,000 years.
Why did Britain choose Australia as the location for a new penal colony?
Australia was far away, had been mapped by British explorers, and Britain wanted to establish a settlement there.
Why is Aboriginal culture recognised as the world's oldest living culture?
Because it has continued without interruption for more than 65,000 years and its traditions, knowledge and culture are still practised today.
How did Aboriginal people care for the environment before European settlement?
They used sustainable practices such as cultural burning, careful harvesting and respecting natural resources so they could continue to support future generations.
What have the discoveries at Lake Mungo taught historians?
They provide evidence that Aboriginal peoples have lived in Australia for tens of thousands of years.
Besides reducing overcrowded prisons, why was establishing a colony in Australia important to Britain? Give 3 answers
Britain wanted to:
1. expand its empire,
2. strengthen its influence in the Pacific
3. establish a naval base
4. increase trade opportunities
5. secure valuable resources