How accurate is it to say that the policy towards the Aboriginal people in Australia was determined
by the settlers of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land?
The Aboriginal people had existed in Australia for 50,000 years, with estimates putting the
population at approximately 300,000 at the time of British arrival. The British government wanted
to establish good relations with the Aboriginal people, instructing the governors to treat them with
‘amity and kindness.’ There was however a clear lack of understanding between the two cultures.
The Aboriginals followed totemism, they had a spiritual link to their land, which lead the British,
specifically Captain Cook, to claim Australia as Terra Nullis. This difference in cultures sparked issues
between governors, settlers and the Aboriginal people leading to changes in how government policy
towards the Aboriginals was carried out. The government however was the leading force in
determining policy towards the Aboriginal population in Australia.
The settlers had some influence on determining policy towards the treatment of the Aboriginals,
particularly in Van Diemen’s Land. Cultural clashes led to settlers disregarding government policy of
establishing friendly relations with the Aboriginals. Governor Philips instruction of not stealing from
the Aboriginals was largely ignored by the convicts, leading to mutual stealing from both the convicts
and Aboriginals; later developing into violence. Social divisions and settlers’ general feeling of
superiority meant the Aboriginal people were treated in ways that contradicted government policy.
Settlers in New South Wales did not officially change government policy, but did not adhere to it
either. On the other hand, settlers in Van Diemen’s Land had greater influence on policy compared
to settlers in New South Wales. Due to problems with starvation, the survival of the colony rested on
kangaroo hunting. This resulted in convicts being armed with guns, creating a class of armed and
uncontrollable bushmen who regarded the Aboriginal people as vermin and therefore killed them.
Settlers’ barbarity resulted in limits being placed on violence against the Aboriginal population,
therefore demonstrating settlers’ influence in determining policy towards the Aboriginals.
Furthermore, retaliatory raids against the settlers by the Aboriginal people as a consequence of their
food supplies being destroyed and the ensuing settler hysteria meant that governor Arthur was
forced to change the policy towards the Aboriginal population, restricting Aboriginals to settled
districts. The settlers therefore had influence in altering policy, especially in Van Diemen’s Land, as
cultural clashes and social divisions proved to put a strain on initial government policy of treating the
Aboriginal population with amity and kindness.
Contrarily, the policy towards the Aboriginal people was mainly determined by the British
government. The first settlement in New South Wales reflected government policy as friendly
meetings took place between the Eora tribe and the settlers. The government stated that Aboriginal
people must not be molested and anyone who willingly killed them must be punished. This policy
was relayed to every governor, who had to follow government instructions. Indeed, initially
government policy was enforced. Upon Arthur Philip’s arrival in Botany Bay (1788), tentative contact
was made with the Aborigines, who were gifted beads and mirrors. Governor Phillip also issued
instructions that convicts should not steal from the Aboriginals and even attempted to demonstrate
the fairness of British justice by ordering that convicts be punished through flogging, in the presence
of Aboriginal people, for stealing fishing gear. Generally, Phillip was interested in the Aboriginal
population and favoured a non-aggressive policy where possible, representing the basis of
government policy towards the Aboriginals. Governor Macquarie also followed government policy
attempting to establish good relations with the Aboriginal people and transform them into farmers.
In 1815 Macquarie put 16 Aboriginal people on a small farm in Sydney Harbour, demonstrating
longevity of government influence and policy, therefore it was the government that determined
policy towards the Aboriginal people.
