Upon the Europeans arrival in Australia, many were surprised by the environmental landscape. In explorer Thomas Livingstone Mitchell’s piece, he outlines the land as 'wild', with few resources available. Mitchell also notes the importance of the partnership between nature and Australia's native inhabitants. As a result, in order for the territory to be occupied by British settlers, it was Mitchell's opinion that the Aboriginal population must be driven out of Australia.
Furthermore, as previously mentioned, Australia’s environment was quite inhospitable and very few of the settlers had farming experience. Nature was also suffering as a result of the new inhabitants. Therefore, as John Hirst writes, the pioneer legend was created as a need to find ‘new national heroes and symbols’, ones that saved and successfully worked with the barren landscape of Australia. This legend celebrates perseverance and hard work, and individuals such as Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson encompass the ‘Australian pioneer legend’, as courageous and resourceful bush-men. The pioneer legend greatly influenced the base of what was written about Australian history. Moreover, many were desperate to erase the ‘convict stain’ of Australia’s history and as a result, the pioneer legend was created. Hirst contends that the pioneer legend history meant that historians could feasibly omit the convict origins in the Australia's history.
In addition, as Tom Stannage writes, including the pioneer legend as part of Australian history justifies the invasion of land that took place. Stannage believes that the term pioneer should be replaced with ‘land-taker’. Furthermore, this history fails to include women, convicts and Aborigines in its story. The Pioneer legend conveniently leaves out the fact that hundreds of Aborigines were enslaved, shot and killed by these so called ‘pioneer legends’. In addition, in reality, not only were British settlers causing unprecedented destruction to the Australian environment, but nature and native animals were also affected. Wild rabbits were imported in 1859 and as a result destroyed the land. Native animals such as kangaroos and emus were hunted as a part of a sporting pastime.
The pioneer legend was created in order to establish a simple, local myth that falsely glorifies Australia's origins. European settlers were ill-equipped to handle Australia's environment and were instead destroying the environment and killing its native animals.
In addition, as Tom Stannage writes, including the pioneer legend as part of Australian history justifies the invasion of land that took place. Stannage believes that the term pioneer should be replaced with ‘land-taker’. Furthermore, this history fails to include women, convicts and Aborigines in its story. The Pioneer legend conveniently leaves out the fact that hundreds of Aborigines were enslaved, shot and killed by these so called ‘pioneer legends’. In addition, in reality, not only were British settlers causing unprecedented destruction to the Australian environment, but nature and native animals were also affected. Wild rabbits were imported in 1859 and as a result destroyed the land. Native animals such as kangaroos and emus were hunted as a part of a sporting pastime.
The pioneer legend was created in order to establish a simple, local myth that falsely glorifies Australia's origins. European settlers were ill-equipped to handle Australia's environment and were instead destroying the environment and killing its native animals.
Overlooking Australia's landscape, Dunlop range in 1886
Source: 'Pioneer photographer shows birth of Australia' by Penny McLintock
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/09/2298872.htm>
No comments:
Post a Comment