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Australian Culture & Identity

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On This Day in Australian History

‘On This Day in Australian History covers major Australian events and happenings occurring on a daily basis. Not only is the series of events noted, but the stories behind the events are also included.’ Not quite complete yet, and you need to subscribe to gain details about each event.
This Day in History
This is only an initial offering, and one which will be worked on, refined, added to, etc., in the future. There are several links to other, related pages and people should also check these for further information.

A - F

  1. Arts & Culture, The
    The role of Arts, Music and Literature within the Australian culture.
    • Australian Language, Letters and Literature
      A look at examples of these, the influences behind them and their effects. From the Culture & Recreation Portal.
    • Australian Painters
      Traces the role of artists from settlement on and what impact they had on Australia. From the Culture & Recreation Portal.
    • Literature - Reflecting Old and New Influences
      A Fact Sheet from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade providing a basic introduction.
    • Nicholson
      A country’s culture is often reflected in the cartoons about all aspects of its way of life. This is but one example. These are cartoons by Nicholson that specifically reflect Australian events, rather than international ones.
    • The Angry Penguins
      ‘A modernist literary and artistic movement that sought to shake up the entrenched art establishment of Australia in the 1940s. The movement was run by a group of passionate and ‘angry’ young men - the rebels of their day.’
    • The Lucky Country
      Article about Donald Horne and his book of the above title. ‘He was thinking about things like Australia’s cultural cringe, its foreign policy and the White Australia Policy. He was, to paraphrase those words, talking about a ‘not too clever country’.’
  2. Australian Humour
    What sort of humour can be considered Australian ?
    • Australian Humour
      ‘Recognised [although maybe not always understood] the world over as being distinctly Australian. Our humour is dry, full of extremes, anti-authoritarian, self-mocking and ironic.’ Looks at styles of humour and humour in various media. Extensive links to related information. From the Culture & Recreation Portal.
    • The Loaded Dog
      A short story by Henry Lawson, which provides a good example of ‘Aussie humour’.
  3. Australian Identity
    Identity, and what makes this, is an integral part of the culturte of any nation or group. The following links provide information about apsects of the ‘Australian’ identity.
    • Australian Identity [1]
      A brief article from the director of the St James Ethics Centre.
    • Australian Identity [2]
      [Adolescents’ Conceptions of What it Means to be Australian]
      A 2003 article, presented by Nola Purdie at the AARE Conference that year. Download as a .pdf file.
    • Australian Identity [3]
      A collection of links compiled by Adelaide High School Library, both general and specific.
    • Australian Identity [4]
      An extensive listing of links to sites about Outstanding Aussies, Aussie Icons, Our Cultural Diversity, Special Days, Commemorations and a Teachers’ section.
    • Australian Identity : A Cinematic Roll Call
      ‘Since the beginnings of cinema in Australia from around 1896, Australian films have charted a range of views of the Australian identity, and in this article, I have identified four main strands.’ Downloadable article.
    • Australian Identity - Identity & Culture
      From Australian Screen, comes this extensive range film clips [movies & television]. ‘The clips have teachers’ notes related to this topic.’
      Fascinating !
    • Celebrating Australia : Identity By Design
      ‘Celebrating Australia : identity by design revealed how concepts and symbols of national identity have been used and developed by Australian graphic designers throughout the 20th century.’ The article describes this.
    • Does Australia Need a National Identity ?
      An extensive presentation that incorporates general information, quotes and a timeline review of changes which have occurred, leading up to the present day.
    • Educational Activities
      The following links direct you to educational units and lessons about Australian Identity, most developed by education departments.
      • Australian Identity : Who is an Australian ?
        A unit topic developed for secondary level by Making Multicultural Australia. All required resources can be accessed and all details are provided.
      • Australian National Identity : …
        [Influences and Perspectives]
        A New Basics Project from Education Queensland, it provides all required procedures and links for implementation.
      • Being Australian
        ‘This unit of work addresses the Social Studies, Year 7 curriculum in Queensland, Unit 1 : Being Australian. Activity numbers correspond to Sourcebook. The WebQuest ‘What Does it Mean to be Australian ?’ [written by the same author] also addresses this unit.’
      • Migration and Australian Identity
        A unit from Education Queensland as part of their Under the Skin project.
      • This Australian Nation : …
        [Who are we ? What do we value ?]
        A presentation from Civics & Citizenship Education at the federal education department. There are three main activities linked to this. Secondary level. All are linked through use of the Australian Readers.
      • We Are Australian [1]
        A presentation from Civics & Citizenship Education at the federal education department. Multiple activities. Designed for middle Primary up. All are linked through use of the Australian Readers.
      • We Are Australian [2]
        Developed through the NSW Country Area Program [CAP]. It looks at Identity and Values. It provides activities using the wide range of links provided.
    • Identity, Race and History
      [Australia’s Continuing Neurosis]
      One of the Alfred Deakin Lectures. It has printer friendly format and provides a full transcript. Done by Kim Scott.
    • Legend Mate, Bloody Legend
      [Review of The Australian Legend and its Discontents, edited by Richard Nile.]
      An interesting review of this book which links to aspects of the Australian identity. And no, it is not about sport but the wider context.
    • National Identity
      [Australian Studies Centre Online]
      A brief article which looks at this topic.
    • Raffaello Carboni’s Perception of Australia
      [And Australian Identity]
      An article by G Rando looking at Carboni and his views on an emerging Australian identity. [Carboni was involved in the Eureka Stockade.]
    • The Australian Bush
      ‘The bush has an iconic status in Australian life and features strongly in any debate about national identity, especially as expressed in Australian literature, painting, popular music, films and foods.’ From the Culture & Recreation Portal.
    • Who’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me ?
      ‘This site aims to reveal some of the important primary and secondary sources that have informed the stories, myths and interpretations behind the song. Explore the original sources that tell the multiple stories of ‘Waltzing Matilda’.’
  4. Australian Values
    Just what are the values which Australians hold to be important ? Also see the sections on Mateship and Myths below.

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G - L

  1. General Sites & Portals
    This section includes link listings, general information and more.
    2.
  2. Indigenous Culture
    For information in this area, go to the following pages.
  3. Language
    This section includes links to idiom, slang, Strine and more. For further links, go to The English Language page, and look under Dialects.
    • Australia Decoded
      A dictionary of Australian English including words, phrases and acronyms. Each is given a clear, and at times extensive, explanation. Choose a beginning letter from the Australia Decoded search box in the main menu [left hand side].
      Highly Recommended !
    • Australian English Glossary from A to Zed
      An interesting introduction on both structure and pronunciation, followed by the glossary.
    • Australian or Aussie Slang
      ‘Considering the variety of accents, & our tendency to use slang words in many situations, the slang shown here on this page should help most visitors to Australia, and give you a few laughs along the way.’
    • Australian Slang
      Colloquialisms, idiom, substitutions, sources for slang, gentle insults, perverse reversals, nicknames, lost phrases, further references and more. From Australia’s Culture and Recreation Portal.
    • Australian Word Map
      ‘Word Map is mapping Australian regionalisms - words, phrases or expressions used by particular language groups. Add your regionalism or search to see what others have contributed.’
    • Glossary of Slang and Peculiar Terms
      [in Use in the A.I.F. 1921-1924]
      ‘The glossary, compiled by the newly formed Australian War Memorial’s librarians over the period 1921 to 1924, provides a snapshot of the language of the soldiers who had fought for Australia and the Empire in the Middle East and Europe. Over 900 terms are included in the glossary. We can get a real sense of how the average soldier spoke [the swear words that no doubt were also a central part of the soldiers’ vocabulary did not make it into the glossary, although some are alluded to]. We also gain a sense of how Australian soldiers brought to the battlefields a distinct ‘Aussie’ identity revealed in this ‘slanguage’.’ From the Australian National Dictionary Centre.
    • “Let Stalk Strine”
      ‘The following is taken from a publication called Strine by Afferbeck Lauder. Published by Ure Smith, Sydney. A lexicon on modern Strine usage.’
    • Meanings and Origins of Australian Words and Idioms
      ‘This [section] contains a selection of Australian words, their meanings, and their etymologies.’ Listed alphabetically. From the Australian National Dictionary Centre.
    • Slang [“Ow’re yer going”]
      A brief history and some examples of rhyming slang.
    • The Gold Rushes and Australian English
      [A Resource for Researchers, Teachers, and Students]
      ‘These documents are from Victorian newspapers in the early 1850s. They are a product of the Australian National Dictionary Centre’s research into Australian English. The documents are intended to encourage students to do their own work with source material.’ 13 groupings. From the Australian National Dictionary Centre.
    • The Vocabulary of Australian English
      ‘The vocabulary of Australian English comes from many sources. This document outlines some of the most important sources of Australian words, and some of the important historical events that have shaped the creation of Australian words.’ From the Australian National Dictionary Centre.

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M - R

  1. “Mateship”
    From the earliest periods of white settlement, this was seen to be a defining characteristic of Australian culture.
    • A Sketch of Mateship
      A sketch demonstrative of the concept of mateship from Henry Lawson.
    • Gallipoli, Mateship, …
      [And the Construction of Australian National Identity]
      Extensive, text article looking at the role and depiction of mateship, especially in film.
    • Is Mateship a Virtue ?
      An essay by James S Page that takes a critical look at what mateship is and effects this might have - are these virtues ? Download as a .pdf file.
    • Mateship [1]
      An extensive listing of quotes and statements relating to mateship from Prime Ministers, writers and everyday people. Interesting.
    • Mateship [2]
      Covers origins, military context, use in other situations, other references, links and more. From wikipedia.
    • Mateship as an Australian Value
      An article by Tom Lovett in The Epoch Times. Short and to the point.
    • Mateship, Diggers and Wartime
      Article from the Culture & Recreation portal. Information plus links to further sources.
  2. Media Presentation in This Area
    This section includes links to a range of media presentations including several from the ABC.
    • Remaking Australia, Part 4 : Miriam Lyons
      ‘Today, Miriam Lyons, Director of the Centre for Policy Development, takes a look at remaking Australian culture, for want of a smaller topic.’ One of a series of responses following the Federal election of 2007, presented by Crikey.
    • Suburbia
      ‘Suburbia - those suburban, residential areas that stretch far beyond the Central Business Districts of Australia’s major cities and towns. While Australians like to think that the bush is at the heart of the country, roughly 80 per cent of Australians live in the suburbs …’
      Part of a series from Radio National, which is available as a broadcast or in transcript format.
    • Tales of Two Hemispheres
      [The 2004 Boyer Lectures available both in audio and transcript formats]
      ‘Peter Conrad draws on eclectic sources, anecdote and personal reminiscence to forge a sense of rich cultural history. He tells his side of the story of being an expatriate Australian writer and intellectual, returning to his birthplace to rediscover and appreciate anew the qualities that make Australia unique and now an object of desire in this increasingly globalised world.’ 6 broadcasts.
    • The Australian People
      ‘When Australia commemorated a hundred years of nationhood in 2001, the people who took part in the street parades reflected the fact that Australia’s population is now one of the most ethnically diverse in the world.’
      Part of a series from Radio National, which is available as a broadcast or in transcript format.
    • The Local and the Global in Australian Culture
      ‘In today’s program we take a look at ‘Australian Culture - the Local and the Global’ - through books, film and even Aussie Rules Football. There are often two conflicting points of view about Australian culture : one that such a young country can hardly be seen to have a national culture at all, and another more positive view that Australia’s no longer a British outpost nor is it a branch office of the United States and it can build something new and different, ’Down Under’ !’
      Part of a series from Radio National, which is available as a broadcast or in transcript format.
  3. Myths, Beliefs & Stereotypes
    This section includes information about a range of ‘beliefs’ seen as integral to Australian culture. You should also check the Mateship section above.
    • Australian Dream
      ‘The Australian Dream or Great Australian Dream is a belief that in Australia, home ownership can lead to a better life and is an expression of success and security.’ Looks at history, cultural presentations and has references and further links. From wikipedia.
    • Australian Folklore
      ‘Australian folklore is based on traditional beliefs, legends and customs of a group, handed down through generations.’ Looks at these from a variety of sources. Extensive links to further information. From the Culture & Recreation Portal.
    • Australian Myths - Fact or Fable ?
      A general presentation with an emphasis on several myths - mateship, egalitarianism, a fair go, as well as looking at responses to these concepts.
    • Australian Stereotypes
      An article covering a generalised look at the stereotypes and many people’s opposing views of them.
    • Class in Australia
      A collection of quotes about class in Australia. Several points of view are provided.
    • Tall Poppies :
      • Flogging the Tall-Poppy Syndrome
        Looks at what it is, lists examples and responses, then provides explanations of the process from a number of sources.
      • Tall Poppy Syndrome
        Short article that covers the syndrome in a number of countries including Australia. Examples, references and further links. From wikipedia.
  4. Multiculturalism
    This section includes link listings, general information, award information, illustrators and more.

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S - Z

  1. Social and Cultural Features
    These links have been compiled by an online education group and cover the post-war decades. Access may be limited on any visit without a Fee-based registration at the site [cost is quite reasonable]. Registration includes access to audio summaries, images and examinations on the topic.
    2.
  2. Sport
    Sport and its influence has always played a significant role in Australian culture.
    • Nick Bryant’s Australia
      Part of a blog from the BBC News in which the reporter looks at Melbourne’s Sport Prowess and how it reflects on Australian love of sport [and competition with Sydney !].
    • Sport
      ‘The history of various sports and what they reveal about the values of Australian society are explored in the Sport : A National Obsession ? display in the Nation gallery.’ From the National Museum of Australia.
    • Sport and Recreation …
      [As a tool for social inclusion]
      Looks at ‘The experiences of refugee and migrant young people’ and the use of sport as a way to inclusion. An article available as a .pdf download.
    • Sports Mad
      An article by Dr Barry Spur, which looks at sport as the national obsession.
    • Sport : Touchstone of Australian Life
      A broadcast by Martin Flanagan as part of the Alfred Deakin Lectures.
    • This Sporting Life
      One person’s response to those who see sport as the most important factor, when he doesn’t. An article in The Age.

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