The history of human occupation in Queensland long encompasses recent European settlers and Australian aboriginal presence. North eastern Australia was explored by French, Dutch and Portuguese navigators, before being claimed in 1770 by Lt James Cook for England. Since the separation in 1859 from the colony of NSW, Queensland has seen dramatic growth and currently is the fastest growing state on the Australian continent. The Aboriginal Australians which are now termed the indigenous people of Australia arrived around sixty thousand years ago by ship and some came across Torres Strait, which archeologists assume from Southeast Asia. The Aborigines traveled across the continent for around ten thousand years prior to the Europeans arriving. There were around seven hundred Australian Aboriginal nations of which two hundred lived in Queensland and there were ninety different language groups among the nations.
A sudden drop in global temperatures occurred around 25 000 years ago, which resulted in an ice age which lasted for around ten thousand years, of which caused most of the abundant landscape to become desolate and harsh. Food became scarce, which lead up to the very first seed grinding technology in the world. Land bridges built between Tasmania and Southeast Asia was inhospitable and harsh. The spread of tropical rainforests along the eastern coast occurred around fifteen thousand years ago due to global warming and high rainfall and around the same time the coastal land started shrinking due to the rise in sea levels. The Museums in Brisbane have records of Queensland's amazing history and the art galleries display aboriginal art that tells stories depicting the history dating back many decades. Brisbane is now one of the most popular holiday destinations which now offer the most up to date modern facilities including top class accommodation at hotelurban.com.au/Brisbane where holiday makers can book directly online before leaving on their trip to Brisbane. Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. On Morton Bay Island and along the Barron River, the aboriginals built large dwellings known as djimurru which housed around forty people, and at the time the Aboriginals lived a hunter gatherer lifestyle due to the severe floods and droughts and unpredictable climate.
It was only around six thousand years ago when Queensland began forming its present shape. Queensland was the most populated section prior to white settlement of pre contact Australian Aboriginals. The Aboriginal people's number fell drastically due to direct conflict between the white settlers, smallpox and other causes. Under the instruction of King George III of England, Lieutenant James Cook claim the Australian east coast at Possession Island in 1770, of which was renamed eastern Australia NSW which to this day includes the present Queensland.
Martin Wynn
