TASMANIA

Tasmania is an island in Australia.

It has a size of 68 000Sq Km.

Its climate has four distinct seasons.

The land form is mostly large wilderness areas with fast flowing rivers
and waterfalls, lakes and Mountains.

The population in Tasmania is 0.5 Million

Tasmanian Flag

The capital city is Hobart.

Tasmania’s wilderness was isolated from the perils of the Australian

mainland for 10,000 years but human impacts have now begun to
threaten its native animals and plants.
The Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian Devil is one of the animals that are threatened with
extinction due to a strange Facial Tumour Disease. It was first observed
in 1996 and its cause is still unknown.

Another animal that is under threat is the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle.

Wedged-tailed eagle is the forest’s top predator but now is under threat
due to a large range of problems with people.

1. Seven percent of eagles are killed annually by illegal shooting,

trapping and poisoning

2. The introduction of man made structures, such as powerlines and wind

turbines, into eagle habitat has increased eagle mortality in recent years
3. Cars hit devils and eagles when these predators feed on road kill
victims along roadsides

4. One of the most predominant threats to the eagle’s long-term survival

in Tasmania is the loss of habitat due to forestry operations, agriculture
and mining

5. Worldwide, deforestation is the single biggest cause of extinction . In

Tasmania, an area greater than 50 football fields of forest are cleared
daily

Tens of thousands of years ago, the first Tasmanians crossed a land

bridge from mainland Australia.
When sea levels rose after the last Ice Age, Tasmanian Aboriginal people
were isolated for 10,000 years until Europeans arrived and settled in the
beginning of the 19th century.

How Aborigines came to be in Tasmania

During an ice age, the first inhabitants crossed over to the island from
mainland Australia via a land bridge. Indigenous Tasmanians were the
most southerly population on the earth at that time.

How the original Tasmanians lived

The original Tasmanians were hunters and gatherers. They had a good
understanding of their environment and the seasons. Using this
knowledge, they were able to harvest a variety of food sources.

They used fire to control the growth of grasslands. This practice

supported an abundance of animals such as wallabies and kangaroos.

They traveled to outer islands in bark canoes. This allowed them to

harvest muttonbirds and seals.

People camped in groups of families. Several family groups formed a

band. At the time of European contact, there were nine language groups
in Tasmania.

Impact of European settlement

As was the case elsewhere in Australia, with European colonisation

came the decline of the Aboriginal population. This was largely due to
introduced diseases and conflicts with the new arrivals.
It is estimated that in 1803, there were between 5,000 and 10,000
Aboriginal people in Tasmania. By 1833, just 30 years later, the
indigenous population was down to 300. I feel very sad when I think of
those 30 years. In fact it upsets me when I think of any time people die as
a result of persecution or neglect.

Outstanding Aborigines

In the midst of this tragic time for the indigenous population, there were
some outstanding individuals. One Aborigine who tried to make a
positive difference was Truganini. Even today, her story is an inspiration
to everyone.
Another well-loved Tasmanian Aborigine is Fanny Cochrane Smith. To
me, her life story is a shining example for us all. She strikes me as
someone who had a generous spirit and a giving heart.

Aborigines in Tasmania today

It is believed that currently, there are around 150,000 people of

Aboriginal descent living in Tasmania. Many Aboriginal communities
work at ensuring that the richness of their traditions and culture are not
lost. For example, the Tasmanian Palawa Aboriginal community is
working to revive a Tasmanian language using available records.

Aboriginal heritage

You can learn about Aboriginal history and culture at these places:

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart

The permanent Aboriginal exhibition showcases the cultural riches of all
Tasmanian Aboriginal generations.

Tiagarra Aboriginal Centre, Devonport

Learn about the life of tribal Tasmanian Aborigines. You can also wander
the Mersey Bluff headlands and view aboriginal rock engravings.

Jahadi Indigenous Experiences, Deloraine

Get a better understanding of the significance of the region from the
perspective of the Palawa Aboriginals. You can also join tours visiting
sites where you can learn more about indigenous culture.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Stories

In Aboriginal history and culture, there are many stories explaining why
land forms and creatures are endowed with certain features.

I love these stories and have collected some for you:

Taraba - The Tasmanian Devil - why the creature looks and sounds as it
does today

Toorittya - The Wattle Bird - why the bird looks and sounds as it does
today

Koonya - The Black Swans - how these creatures came into being

Luina - The Blue Wren - how this beautiful bird got its appearance
Oonah - The Platypus - how this creature got its unusual appearance

Publedina - The Wombat - how this creature came to be known as brave

and strong

To me, these stories have a special place in Tasmanian Aboriginal

history.