What were the Australian Wars and why is history not acknowledged?

The Frontier Wars is a term often used to describe the more than 100 years of violent conflicts between colonial settlers and the Indigenous peoples that occurred during the British settlement of Australia. Even though Australia honours its involvement in wars fought overseas, it is yet to acknowledge the struggle that made it the country it is today.

The Australian Wars documentary Credit: Blackfella Films

Key Points

• The Australian Wars could only be acknowledged after the proclamation of ‘Terra Nullius’ was legally challenged and overturned.
• The Australian wars were fought throughout the continent, from the arrival of the first fleet in 1788, and until the mid-1930s.
• Colonial records and archaeological evidence uncovered by teams of experts demonstrate the horrific scale of the conflict.