Reading list

A detailed chronological narrative of Australia's wars across more than two hundred years, set in the contexts of defence and strategic policy, the development of society and the impact of war and military service on Australia and Australians.

Regularly features programs relevant to First Nations history, the Voice and Frontier Wars, eg. Awaye!, Big Ideas, Conversations, Late Night Live, Speaking Out, Word Up

Explains the land rights struggle since Mabo, the Hindmarsh Island affair, debates over the 'stolen generation', 'sorry' and reconciliation, and the recent experience of Aboriginal Australia.

More than 50 years on, these essays on Aboriginals, their society and their vision of the world still inform and stimulate. Contains the famous phrase, ‘the great Australian silence’.

Covers frontier conflict and colonial wars during the 19th century, as well as the ten major wars of the 20th century plus peacekeeping activities. Includes a comprehensive account of major operations and campaigns.

The British atomic weapons test series in 1956 wreaked havoc on Indigenous communities and turned the land into a radioactive wasteland. 

Seeks to document the frontier conflicts between European colonists and Australia’s First Peoples. Maps, timelines, names of warriors, memorials, resources, latest news. Separate sites for each state.

Comprehensive history covering all jurisdictions, based on authoritative sources.

Volume titles: Australians, a historical atlas; Australians to 1788; Australians 1838; Australians 1888; Australians 1938; Australians from 1939; Australians 1988; Australians, a guide to sources; Australians, events and places; Australians, a historical dictionary; Australians, historical statistics; Australians, the guide. References to First Nations history are in most of these volumes, with many authors, particularly the volumes with dates.

Bennelong and Phillip were leaders of their two sides in the first encounters between Britain and Indigenous Australians, Phillip the colony’s first governor, and Bennelong the Yiyura leader. The pair have come to represent the conflict that flared and has never settled.

Cassandra Pybus reveals that black convicts were among our first fleet. Most of these black founders were originally slaves from America who had sought freedom with the British during the American Revolution only to find themselves abandoned and unemployed in England when the war was over.

Draws together most of the information about the massacres of the Aboriginal people which has been recorded in books and journals. It also creates a level of awareness of the scale of the massacres, so that this dimension of Australian history can become part of the Australian consciousness.