1. Reconciliation timeline
Events that have made an
impact on the recognition of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples

3. 1770 – Captain Cook enters Botany Bay on the Endeavour. The British Government
does not recognise the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and
their special connection with the land.
Instead – they declare Australia is terra nullius – land belonging to nobody

4. 1778 – The First Fleet arrives and builds a settlement at Port Jackson in Sydney, New
South Wales

5. 1778 – The First Fleet arrives and builds a settlement at Port Jackson in Sydney, New
South Wales

7. Contact art depicts these early encounters

8. Contact art depicts these early encounters

10. 1901 - the Commonwealth of Australia is formed. The constitution is enacted and the first
federal parliament sits.

13. 1948 – New federal legislation gives the category of ‘Australian Citizenship’ to all Australians,
including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, for the first time
At a state level, however, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples still suffer legal
discrimination.

14. 1962 – The Commonwealth Electoral Act is amended to give the vote to all Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples at Federal Elections

15. 1967 – On May 27, more than 90 per cent of
Australians vote ‘YES’ in a referendum to give the
Australian Government the power to make laws
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

19. 1972 – The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is pitched outside Parliament House in Canberra,
campaigning for the recognition of Aboriginal land rights

20. The embassy commemorated its 40th anniversary this year

21. The embassy commemorated its 40th anniversary this year

24. 1985 – Uluru is handed back to its traditional owners in a ceremony at the base of the rock

27. 1988 – The Barunga Statement, calling for rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples, is presented to Prime Minister Bob Hawke

29. 1991 – The Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody presents its final report into the
deaths of 99 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australian jails

30. 1991 – The Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody presents its final report into the
deaths of 99 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australian jails

32. 1992 – On June 3, The high Court hands down the Mabo decision, recognising the special
relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with the land

34. In this decision, the Court rules that Australia was never terra nullius

35. 1993 – The United Nations declares 1993 the International Year of the World’s
Indigenous People

36. Prime Minister Paul Keating launches Australia's celebrations of the 1993 International Year of
the World's Indigenous Peoples, giving an historic speech at Redfern

37. 1996 – The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launches Australia’s first
National Reconciliation Week

38. 1996 – The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launches Australia’s first
National Reconciliation Week

39. 1996 – The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launches Australia’s first
National Reconciliation Week

40. 1997 – The Bringing Them Home report on Australia’s Stolen Generations is
launched at the National Reconciliation Conference
Between 1910 and 1970, 20,000 to 25,000 Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children were removed from their families and
communities by the Australian Government against the will of their
parents.
The effects of these forced removal policies include broken families,
diminished physical and mental health, loss of language, culture and
connection to traditional land, loss of parenting skills and enormous
distress continuing today.
Not one Aboriginal family escaped the effects of the forced removal
policies.
Intergenerational effects are prevalent today.

44. Cover image of the Bringing Them Home report

45. 1998 – on 26 May, the first
National Sorry Day is
commemorated, as
recommended by the
Bringing Them Home report

49. 2000 – Reconciliation Australia is established

50. 2000 – In May, approximately 300,000 people walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of
National Reconciliation Week, showing support for the reconciliation process

51. 2000 – In May, approximately 300,000 people walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of
National Reconciliation Week, showing support for the reconciliation process

52. 2004 – The Commonwealth Government established a memorial to the Stolen Generations at
Reconciliation Place in Canberra

53. 2007 – As Australia celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum, Prime Minister John
Howard begins an intervention into Northern Territory Aboriginal Communities

54. 2007 – As Australia celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum, Prime Minister John
Howard begins an intervention into Northern Territory Aboriginal Communities

55. 2007 – As Australia celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum, Prime Minister John
Howard begins an intervention into Northern Territory Aboriginal Communities

56. 2007 – As Australia celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum, Prime Minister John
Howard begins an intervention into Northern Territory Aboriginal Communities

57. 2008 – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologises to the Stolen Generations on behalf of
the Australian Parliament

58. 2008 – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologises to the Stolen Generations on behalf of
the Australian Parliament

59. 2008 – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologises to the Stolen Generations on behalf of
the Australian Parliament

61. 2012 onward – what future steps do you think Australia should
take towards greater recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples?

62. Did you know – 82% of Australians want to recognise
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian
Constitution. It’s time to create a nation for us all.