"In colonial Australia manners marked the difference between savagery and civilisation, between vulgarity and refinement. Colonists recoiled in shock and confusion at the customs of Indigenous Australians, but they also sensed the savagery lurking in white society. Manners matte…
Our Original Aggression is a fascinating work of historical detection. Professor Butlin offers a radical revision of the prevailing understanding of the number of Aborigines living in southeastern Australia at the time of white arrival and an equally radical assessment of the re…
Settlement of colony of New South Wales from sailing of First Fleet in 1787 to 1799 when free settlers began to outnumber convicts. Building of port of Sydney, exploration of hinterland, farms established and Parramatta and Norfolk Island settled.
Second edition examines Batman treaty, with new material in Chapter IV; postscript discusses High Court's decision on native title in 1992.