Australian Migration The Colonial Years (1788-1900)

For over 200 years, migration has been intrinsic to Australia’s national identity. In the first of three migration programs for upper primary viewers, the colonisation of Australia from 1788-1900 is depicted. A range of storytelling methods are used to recreate the often scary and exciting atmosphere of these early times. The final two segments look specifically at the migrant experiences of the British and Chinese, especially during the Gold Rush period. Their stories are told in an accessible and authentic way, providing audiences with a dramatic first-hand account of Australia’s turbulent beginnings. This is an ideal resource which shows how, in less than a century, the country went from an outback penal colony to a nation striving for independence.