Europeans and the Australian Environment

In response to: How have historians accounted for the role and place of early pioneers in shaping national mythology and history?

There has always been an ongoing dispute between historians regarding the ways in which early European settlers viewed the Australian environment. As a result, historians have accounted for the role and place in which early pioneers shaped a national mythology and identity based upon the environment. This is largely associated with the ‘pioneer legend.’ To early pioneers, the Australian environment was often considered alien like and strange. They had little idea of how to combat the elements and also about the natural flora and fauna. Consequently, their accomplishments of farming and creating a society largely reliant upon natural resources saw many settlers come to love the land. This created the national mythology of the pioneer legend in those able to find beauty in a landscape that is unforgiving. Historian Andrea Gaynor suggests that this legend has evolved over time. She believes that the inability of early settlers to understand the landscape has resulted in catastrophic damage to the environment. This has s many seen Australians attempting to protect the beauty and uniqueness of the environment. This as Gaynor argues, adds a new dimension to Australia, the environment and the pioneer legend. John Hirst also suggests that for much of the nineteenth century, Australians revered the legendary accomplishments and character of pioneers. He says that nationalists, and writers such as Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson helped create the ideal of the Australian pioneer as an individual who was hardworking, resourceful and ordinary. However, influenced by the women’s civil rights movements of the 1960s, Hirst critically questioned the idea of Australian pioneers and their place in national mythology. He argues that the achievements of the pioneer are confined to than land and their accomplishments within a wider context, including politically, are ignored.

In essence, the ways in which historians and Australians alike overtime have viewed the environment, has changed dramatically.

 Australian Artist Robert Todonai’s depiction of Australian Bushmen

Source: http://todonaiart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/bushmen.jpg