Our Sunburnt Country-An illustrated history of Australia.
When asked by parents, teachers, and new Australians what I would recommend for teaching Australian history, I used to unequivocally recommend Our Sunburnt Country, with the additional apology that it was out of print. Now it’s back in print, revised and updated by author Arthur Baillie!!!!!
Our Sunburnt Country: An illustrated history of Australia tells the story of Australia's heritage, from Aboriginal settlement until the present. The chapters read like stories. This book is not a boring fact dissection that has attempted to cover everything. Instead it offers the reader a smooth-flowing piece of good literature that captures the historical events that have shaped a nation and culture.
Reading this book alone will enrich your knowledge and understanding of Australian history. This book is also perfect for teaching Australian history in the home or school.
To add to your Australian history studies and consolidate learning, we have some great ideas and resources on our Teaching Australian History Page. Our Australian History Notebook can also be used with this resource.
Download a sample from the book.
This book is an easy read alone (age 10 and up) or read aloud (age 6 and up).
It has 144 pages with hundreds of colour illustrations. Available in a soft cover version.
A short summary of Our Sunburnt Country Chapters.
1. The Land of the Dreamtime. Aboriginal culture and practice before white settlement.
2. New Visitors came to an Old Land. European discoveries of Australia
3. They Came and Stayed. The arrival of the ‘The First Fleet’ in 1788
4. Rum Rebellion. Early problems in the new colony.
5. Bass and Flinders Map the Coastline- Bass and Flinders boat trips along the east coast of Australia.
6. Over the Barrier-Crossing the Blue Mountains an discovery of the Bathurst plains.
7. The Riddle of the Rivers-Discovery of the Darling,Castlereagh,Hasting,Lochlan rivers.
8. New Colonies in Australia-Melbourne, Perth, Tasmania, Adelaide, Brisbane.
9. Days of Gold-The gold rush of 1951, bush rangers, Eureka Stockade.
10. Men of Industry-Macarthur, Marsden, Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, Kanakas, BHP.
11. Birth of a Nation-Australian federation, Sir Henry Parkes, Alfred Deakin, Liberal and Labour party, White Australia policy, Aboriginals right to vote.
12. A Nation at War-Australia joins Britain in the war. ANZAC’s, war stories and heros.
13. After the WWI-Soldier settlement, irrigation of dry land, dams built, Waddamana power station, Holden, Kieth Smith, Bert Hinkler, Kingsford Smith, John Flynn and the Flying Doctor Service. The depression and the “dole”.
14. The Second World War- War stories, war in the Pacific and bombing in the Northern Territory.
15. Advance Australia- United Nations, SEATO and ANZUS, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, natural disasters, environmental issues facing Australia, Opera House, Mabo, Kevin Rudd’s “Sorry!” to the stolen generation, Australian exports and engineering achievements, Olympic games, National Anthem.
