First Australians
| Company type | Documentary television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Rachel Perkins |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Documentary series |
| Parent | Blackfella Films |
| Website | www |
First Australians is a historical documentary series from Australia, consisting of seven episodes and produced by Blackfella Films over a period of six years. It premiered on SBS TV in October 2008. Alongside the series, a companion book was released.
Synopsis
This series recounts Australian history through the viewpoints of its original inhabitants, the Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people. It integrates thoroughly researched historical data, utilizing archival records as well as contributions from historians and leaders within both Indigenous and European communities. The timeline extends from the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788 to the significant 1993 legal victory of Koiki Mabo in Mabo v Queensland (No 2).
Over the course of seven episodes, the program explores the consequences of British colonization on what is recognized as the world’s oldest continuous culture, using personal narratives to shed light on wider historical developments. It addresses both violent clashes and cooperative engagements between early European settlers and Aboriginal Australians. The series confronts the "great Australian silence"—the historic omission of Indigenous voices—providing a more comprehensive portrayal of Australia’s past.
Having received multiple accolades, First Australians stands as Australia's top-selling educational title and has been made available internationally.
Episodes
The seven-part series debuted in Australia between 12 October and 2 November 2008.
| # | Title | Setting (Period) | Original Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | They Have Come to Stay | New South Wales (1788–1824) | 12 October 2008 | Focuses on the arrival of the First Fleet and early encounters between settlers and Indigenous peoples, featuring prominent figures such as Bennelong, Governor Arthur Phillip, Pemulwuy, William Dawes, Patyegarang, and Windradyne. |
| 2 | Her Will to Survive | Tasmania (1803–1880) | 14 October 2008 | Explores land appropriation in Tasmania, including the forced displacement of Tasmanian Aboriginal communities and governmental involvement, with emphasis on immigrant roles and the story of Truganini. |
| 3 | Freedom For Our Lifetime | Victoria (1860–1890) | 19 October 2008 | Investigates the threat to Indigenous populations in Victoria following Melbourne’s establishment, highlighting mission stations such as Coranderrk and leaders like Simon Wonga and William Barak. |
| 4 | There Is No Other Law | Central Australia (1878–1897) | 21 October 2008 | Examines European settlement in Central Australia through the lens of police officer Constable Willshire’s activities and telegraph operator Frank Gillen’s influence on the Arrernte community. |
| 5 | Unhealthy Government Experiment | Western Australia (1897–1937) | 26 October 2008 | Documents European expansion into Western Australia, conflicts involving Jandamarra, and consequences for the Stolen Generations, including roles played by Chief Protector A. O. Neville and affected individuals such as Gladys Gilligan. |
| 6 | A Fair Deal for a Dark Race | South-east Australia (1937–1967) | 28 October 2008 | Chronicles the emergence of Aboriginal rights activism led by Yorta Yorta leader William Cooper and the Australian Aborigines League, while covering events like the Maralinga nuclear tests and AFL player Douglas Nicholls’ contributions. |
| 7 | We Are No Longer Shadows | Queensland & Torres Strait Islands (1967–1992) | 2 November 2008 | Centers on land rights campaigns spearheaded by Eddie Koiki Mabo, culminating in the High Court’s dismissal of the legal principle of terra nullius. |
Production
Nigel Milan, general manager of SBS, sought guidance from Indigenous historian Gordon Briscoe, who recommended the revitalization of Indigenous historical narratives. Rachel Perkins—creator, director, producer, and daughter of Aboriginal activist Charles Perkins—regarded this undertaking as her most significant work to date, aiming to deliver an unprecedented, comprehensive Indigenous perspective on two centuries of history.
The series consisted of seven episodes, each lasting 60 minutes. Writing and directing responsibilities were shared by talents including Beck Cole and Louis Nowra. Production was overseen by Perkins alongside Darren Dale from Blackfella Films, with financial support provided by the Australian Film Commission and the Film Finance Corporation.
Notable contributors featured in the project included writer Bruce Pascoe as well as historians Marcia Langton, Janet McCalman, and Gordon Briscoe. A crucial aspect of the production involved thorough engagement with descendants of the individuals depicted—this encompassed script validation, obtaining filming consents, reviewing preliminary edits, and honoring Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property protocols. Permissions to utilize stories, images, and other materials were secured from between 200 and 300 people.
Broadcast
The series was initially broadcast on SBS Television during the period from October through November 2008.
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald praised the series as "the documentary of the decade."
Awards and nominations
- 2009: AFI Award for Best Documentary Series – Darren Dale, Rachel Perkins, Helen Panckhurst – Winner
- 2009: Logie Award for Outstanding Documentary or Documentary Series – Winner
- 2009: New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Script Writing Award – Louis Nowra, Rachel Perkins & Beck Cole – Winner
- 2009: Australian Directors' Guild Awards Outstanding Direction for a Television Documentary (Freedom for Our Lifetime) – Rachel Perkins – Winner
- 2009: Australian Writers' Guild Award for Outstanding Writing in a Documentary (Episode 1) – Louis Nowra, Rachel Perkins – Winner
- 2009: Australian Writers' Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Documentary (Episode 3) – Louis Nowra, Beck Cole
- 2009: Deadly Awards nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Film – Rachel Perkins
Book
In 2008, a companion volume titled First Australians: An Illustrated History, edited by Rachel Perkins and Marcia Langton, was released by Miegunyah Press.
External links
- on SBS on Demand
- First Australians at the National Film and Sound Archive
- First Australians launch on the Minister for Indigenous Affairs website