DESCRIPTION OF PEOPLE

APPEARANCE, COSTUME AND ORNAMENTS

APPEARANCE THEN

Before the arrival of British colonizers in 1788, Australia was inhabited by the Indigenous peoples –

Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders

Referred to as the First Australians.

FREE SETTLERSBy the end of the 1850s there were six separate Australian colonies: New South Wales Tasmania (originally settled in 1803, but separated from New South Wales

in 1825) Western Australia (established in 1829) South Australia, including the Northern Territory (established in 1834) Victoria (detached from New South Wales in 1851) Queensland (detached from New South Wales in 1859)

APPEARANCE NOW

TRADITIONAL DRESS

Australia does not have a single traditional dress, uniform or costume, but an Australian national dress style has emerged based on identity, climate and lifestyle.

BARKClick icon to add picture• Bark was used by

many people across the continent.

• This technology is still used today to produce baskets, which are particularly popular in the tourism industry.

• Kurrajong bark is a popular bark.

• In the north, the more tightly woven styles were made.

• Whereas in the south, a looser stringed bag, popularly known as dilly bag, was made.

HAIR• Hair string was an

important textile traditionally made by Australian Aborigines .

• Women cut their hair regularly. This hair was never wasted.

• It was spun into long threads of yarn on a spindle rolled on the thigh and then plaited to about the thickness of 8 ply wool.

GRASS • Grasses were combined

with the hair to create a tougher fiber.

• This varied depending on the area in Australia.

• Grasses are used to weave carry baskets, dilly string bags, wall hangings, fine sculpture, floor mats and fish-nets.

• Each community has their own distinct styles and techniques.

KING PLATESKing plates were a form of regalia used in pre-Federation Australia by white colonial authorities to recognize local Aboriginal leaders.

The plates were metallic crescent-shaped plaques worn around the neck by important Aborigines.

TJURUNGA/CHURINGA A Tjurunga or as it sometimes spelled, Churinga, is an object of religious significance by Centra Australian people of the Arrente (Aranda, Arunta) groups.

It have significance in : sacred ceremonies, stone objects, wooden sacred objects, sacred ground paintings, ceremonial poles, ceremonial headgear, sacred chants and sacred earth mounds.

RIJI Riji are the shells traditionally

worn by Abpearloriginal men in the north-west part of Australia, around present day Broome.

The word Riji is from the Bardi language. Another word for it is jakuli.

Rijis were worn as pubic coverings, like a loin cloth, and attached with hairstring from a belt or band around the waist.

Only men initiated to the highest degree could traditionally wear them.

POSSUM-SKIN CLOAKS Possum-skin cloaks were a form of clothing worn by Aboriginal people in the south-east of Australia – present-day Victoria and New South Wales.

The cloaks were made from numerous possum pelts sewn together with kangaroo sinew, and often decorated with significant incisions on the inside such as clan insignias.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

respect for equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individual

freedom of speech and association freedom of religion and a secular governmentsupport for parliamentary democracy and the rule of lawequality under the lawequality of men and womenequality of opportunitypeacefulnessa spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, mutual respect, and compassion for those in need. Australia also holds firmly to the belief that no one should be disadvantaged on the basis of their country of birth, cultural heritage, language, gender or religious belief.

CELEBRATIONS AND HOLIDAYS

NEW YEAR’S

DAYNew Year’s Day, which is on 1 January every year. The most common time for people in Australia to take their annual leave is between mid-December and the end of January.

CHRISTMAS AND EASTER

Christmas and Easter, two of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. Christmas Day is on 25 December every year, while Easter is observed at some point between late March and late April each year.

BOXING DAY

Boxing Day, the day after

Christmas Day, is also

a public holiday.

AUSTRALIA DAYAustralia Day, on 26 January, is the day Australians celebrate the founding of the first European settlement in Australia in 1788.

ANZAC DAY• Anzac Day, on 25 April, is

the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) landed at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915 during World War I.

• This day is set aside in memory of those who fought for Australia and those who lost their lives in war.

• The day is a national public holiday and is commemorated with ceremonies, the laying of wreaths and military parades.

AUSTRALIAN ART

Australian art is any art made in Australia or about Australia, from prehistoric times to the present.

This includes Aboriginal, Colonial, Landscape, Atelier, early twentieth century painters, print makers, photographers, and sculptors influenced by European modernism, Contemporary art.

The visual arts have a long history in Australia, with evidence of Aboriginal art dating back at least 30,000 years.

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN ART

Petroglyph at Uluru Aboriginal Rock Art, Ubirr Art Site, Kakadu National Park

EARLY COLONIAL ART (1770–1850)

John Lewin, Platypus, 1808, State Library of New South

Wales

John Glover,  My Harvest Home,1835

LATER COLONIAL ART (1850–1885)

John Skinner Prout, Fairlight Glen on the Warragambra (sic), c.1843

William Piguenit (1836–1914) "Flood in the Darling"

LANGUAGE

While English is Australia’s national language, there are certain words and expressions that have become regarded as uniquely Australian through common usage. Some of them might seem strange to non-Australians.

The use of these colloquial or slang words, often coupled with an Australian sense of humour that is characterized by irony and irreverence, can sometimes cause confusion for international visitors.

There are a number of books on Australian colloquialisms and slang, including the Macquarie Book of Slang.

AUSSIE MODESTY Australians are very down to earth and always mindful of not giving the impression that

they think they are better than anyone else. They value authenticity, sincerity, and loathe pretentiousness. Australians prefer people who are modest, humble, self- deprecating and with a sense of

humour. They do not draw attention to their academic or other achievements and tend to distrust

people who do. They often downplay their own success, which may make them appear not to be

achievement-oriented. Australians place a high value on relationships. With a relatively small population, it is important to get along with everyone, since you

never know when your paths may cross again. This leads to a win-win negotiating style, since having everyone come away with positive

feelings helps facilitate future business dealings.

MEETING ETIQUETTEAustralians are not very formal so greetings are casual and relaxed.

A handshake and smile suffices.While an Australian may say, 'G'day' or 'G'day, mate', this may sound patronizing from a foreigner.

Visitors should simply say, 'Hello' or 'Hello, how are you?'

Aussies prefer to use first names, even at the initial meeting

GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTE

Small gifts are commonly exchanged with family members, close friends, and neighbours on birthdays and Christmas.

Trades people such as sanitation workers may be given a small amount of cash, or more likely, a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer!

If invited to someone's home for dinner, it is polite to bring a box of chocolates or flowers to the hostess. A good quality bottle of wine is always appreciated.

Gifts are opened when received.

DINING ETIQUETTEMany invitations to an Aussies home will be for a 'barbie' (BBQ).

Guests to a barbeque typically bring wine or beer for their personal consumption. In some cases, very informal barbecues may suggest that you bring your own meat!

Arrive on time if invited to dinner; no more than 15 minutes late if invited to a barbeque or a large party.

Contact the hostess ahead of time to see if she would like you to bring a dish.

Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served.

AUSTRALIAN CUISINE

1.

HAMBURG

ER WITH

BEETROOT

2. GRILLED

KANGAROO

3.

CROCODIL

E

4. MEAT

PIES

5. CHICKEN PARMIGIANA