First Australians

First Australians chronicles the history of Indigenous peoples in Australia from before European contact through modern times. The book serves as a companion to the SBS television documentary series of the same name. Through research, oral histories, and historical documents, Perkins presents the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' encounters with British settlers, their resistance to colonization, and their ongoing fight for recognition and rights. The narrative spans multiple generations and regions across the continent, documenting key events and figures in Indigenous Australian history. The text interweaves Aboriginal perspectives and European accounts to create a multi-layered historical record. The work challenges conventional colonial narratives while highlighting Indigenous cultures, laws, and ways of life. First Australians contributes to the broader dialogue about sovereignty, identity, and reconciliation in contemporary Australia. The book demonstrates how past policies and actions continue to influence present-day relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Readers value this companion book to the SBS documentary series as a detailed historical account of Aboriginal-European contact from 1788-1993. Many appreciate how it integrates primary sources, diaries, letters and photos to put faces and voices to the historical narrative. What readers liked: - Clear chronological structure - Balance of personal stories with broader historical context - Inclusion of indigenous perspectives and oral histories - Quality of photos and visual materials What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style in some chapters - Cost of hardcover edition ($79.99 AUD) - Limited coverage of some regions/events Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (62 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.7/5 (14 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Fills crucial gaps in Australia's documented history" - Goodreads reviewer "Should be required reading in schools" - Amazon AU review "Writing style varies between contributors, affecting flow" - Goodreads reviewer

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🦘 Rachel Perkins co-created the "First Australians" documentary series before adapting it into the book, making it one of Australia's most comprehensive multimedia projects about Aboriginal history. 🖋️ The book spans over 60,000 years of Indigenous Australian history, from the earliest evidence of Aboriginal civilization to contemporary struggles for recognition. 🎬 Perkins is the daughter of Aboriginal activist Charles Perkins, who led the Freedom Rides of 1965 - a series of protests against racial discrimination in rural New South Wales. 🏆 The "First Australians" documentary series, which preceded the book, won the 2008 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Documentary Series and the UN Media Peace Prize. 🗣️ The book incorporates traditional Aboriginal oral histories alongside conventional historical sources, providing a unique dual perspective on Australian history rarely found in other works.