Our Dark History - Colonial Violence

Suitable for Year Levels 6–9

The history of Australia has often been told as a tale of heroism and discovery, of brave settlers sailing across treacherous seas to discover and settle a strange land. What is often neglected in this historical narrative is the true story of how the land was taken. The massacre of the First Peoples of Australia is a difficult story for us to listen to, but it is a story that we all need to hear.

The following key resources provide a good starting point for this study.

Watch this recorded livestream session on Colonial Violence 

Think and Write

• As you watch this recorded livestream think of some questions that you would like to ask and write them down?
• Why do you think there is silence around this part of our history?
• Why is it important to find out more about what happened in the past?

Think and Write

• Go to the massacre map and find examples in Victoria and in other states.
• Do a search to see if you can find accounts of massacres in Australia in the historical record.
• Read other accounts on the Guardian website.
• What are the explanations given for why these massacres occurred?
• Write a report about what you have learned.