Watch First Australians(2008) Online Free, First Australians All Seasons

Seasons & Episodes

EP1 They have come to stay Oct 12, 2008

The first Australians and the British, the most powerful Empire in history, come face to face in Sydney on January 26, 1788. Their differences are immense but apprehension quickly turns to curiosity. Friendships form, some between powerful men such as Governor Arthur Phillip and the Aboriginal Bennelong. But by the time this pair leave for London three years later, relations between the two races have soured. The bloodshed worsens as settlers spread out across the land.

EP2 Her will to survive Oct 14, 2008

The land grab moves south to Tasmania. In an effort to protect the real estate prices, it is decided to remove the Tasmanian Aboriginal people from the island. The Government enlists an Englishmen for the job, who is helped by a young Aboriginal woman Truganini.

EP3 Freedom for our lifetime Oct 19, 2008

The threat of extinction hovers over the first Australians of Victoria at the time Wurundjeri clan leader Simon Wonga seeks land from the authorities. He soon gives up and leads his people to the banks of the Yarra River, claiming a parcel of land Coranderrk. With the help of a Scottish preacher, and inspired by the farming practices of the settlers, the community prospers – until the authorities step in and resist self determination.

EP4 No Other Law Oct 21, 2008

Throughout the history of white settlement, individual white men, good and bad, have significantly affected the first Australians. Supported by pastoralists keen to make their fortune, the homicidal police officer Constable Willshire, brings mayhem to the Arrernte nation in Central Australia. With the authorities turning a blind eye, the telegraph operator Frank Gillen stops him. Gillen’s other legacy is comprehensive records of the Arrernte people’s way of life.

EP5 Unhealthy government experiment Oct 26, 2008

Jandamurra is born on a cattle station in the Kimberley in 1870s. His hybrid life takes a bloody turn when he trades in his status as a police tracker for his own people. Gladys Gilligan is one of more than 50,000 half-caste children plucked from her family and sent to a mission. The Chief Protector of Aborigines, AO Neville, institutionalises her first son, orders her to be arrested, and denies her the right to marry three times, but she remains resolutely independent.

EP6 A fair deal for a dark race Oct 28, 2008

Across the continent, the first Australians are governed by ‘protective legislation’ which binds them to reserves, controls their wages, residency, ability to marry and travel. Yorta Yorta man William Cooper forms the Australian Aborigines League in 1933 to continue his life-long campaign for equality. His nephew also becomes a political animal; Doug Nichols, a Church of Christ pastor who becomes a champion for those affected by the Maralinga nuclear bomb tests in the 1950s.

EP7 Finale: We are no longer shadows Nov 02, 2008

Eddie Koiki Mabo fights for Australian law to recognise that his people own Murray Island, where they have lived for generations. In 1992, six months after his death and a decade after the statement of claim was first lodged in Queensland, the highest court in the land decides in Mabo’s favour. The outcome overturns the notion of terra nullius, that is, the notion that the land belonged to no-one at the time of white settlement.

8.8| 0h30m| en| More Info

Released: 12 October 2008 Ended

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Country: Australia

Budget: 0

Revenue: 0

Official Website: http://www.sbs.com.au/firstaustralians/

Synopsis

First Australians is an Australian historical documentary series produced by Blackfella Films over the course of six years, and first aired in October 2008. The documentary is part of a greater project that further consists of a hard-cover book, a community outreach program and a substantial website featuring over 200 mini-documentaries. The series chronicles the history of contemporary Australia, from the perspective of its first people, or Aborigines. The series is essentially a synthesis of well documented historical information. It relies heavily on archival documents and interpretations from historians and members of both the Indigenous and European community and leaders. The story begins in 1788 in Sydney, with the arrival of the First Fleet and ends in 1993 with Koiki Mabo's legal challenge to the foundation of Australia. The series comprises seven episodes in which it explores what unfolded when the oldest living culture in the world was confronted by the British Empire. It explores the lives of particular individuals and uses their stories as a vehicle to explain the larger situations of the time. It explains violent aspects of European settlement of Australia, such as killings, battles, wars, as well as acts of friendship and decency between the early European settlers and Indigenous Australians. Indigenous Australian history has until recently been clouded by the "great Australian silence" where ignorance of the real history of Australia can be seen as a way for non-Indigenous to hide shame for their own history. In this respect it has been controversial in that many of these stories have not been portrayed on Australian television before and the Indigenous Australian perspective of European settlement is confrontational for many.

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danielkent-1 Basically the series tells our history. But yeah, its not good. It re-enforces those stories, that you hear about but never fully got the whole picture. This documentary series about the beginnings of modern Australian...from the view of those who shot died for cattle, stolen from their parents, raped, got sick from nuclear bomb testings, removed from their lands, discriminated and controlled in every aspect of their lives.Over the past 221 years, Australia, has gone though a lot. You can not say every aboriginal is right and every white person is evil. But if you look at history its pretty clear that racism isn't just words like it is today. We do have a lot of evil in our past and sometimes you hope this was documentary was a fictional work.This documentary really does explain our past well...Tells of the beginning of Sydney, the stolen generations, the civil wars, the nuclear testings, the murderous killing fields, the freedom ride of black rights, are just some examples of what to expect in this series.But really you have to use your imagination and listen to the words more..as there is only a handful pictures (due to the periods covered before film/photography was widely used in some parts)and a many epic shoots over the landscape. Told using excellent narration, interviews and the words written down by those directly involved. The music is fantastic.But like I said its not the production values that make this series what it is. Seriously the claims made in this series will change your view of Australia, however when your watching this (especially if live overseas) you have understand, that a lot has happened in recent years and for the most part this sh*t doesn't happen anymore..or at least I hope so.I can connect to the history of this as I am white, but my Nana has told me about the slums on the edge of her town in Northern NSW when she was younger, this street I live in right now WAS part of the slums land that the blacks lived on. I was born and grew up in Sydney/Central Coast so the story of Bennalong and the fact that I am a descendant of the first fleet and Arthur Phillip makes it an important part of my history too.I brought the series on DVD, it was at the back of the shelf, in the only place in my large country town that sells it. I watched some episodes on television before, but missed out on most of them. Let me tell you, I never buy DVDs, I am 19 and I got no money to do that. But this one is worth it and I will keep it for the rest of my life.This series is available for viewing on its website for free.

Robin Cook If you're in the mood for a good documentary series that tells it like it was with descendants relating events, then you're in for a treat. This next paragraph I copied from another site giving a summary of this series.First Australians chronicles the birth of contemporary Australia as never told before, from the perspective of its first people. First Australians explores what unfolds when the oldest living culture in the world is overrun by the world's greatest empire. Over seven episodes, First Australians depicts the true stories of individuals - both black and white - caught in an epic drama of friendship, revenge, loss and victory in Australia's most trans-formative period of history. The story begins in 1788 in Sydney, with the friendship between an Englishmen (Governor Phillip) and a warrior (Bennelong) and ends in 1993 with Koiki Mabo's legal challenge to the foundation of Australia. First Australians chronicles the collision of two worlds and the genesis of a new nation.Being in the USA, I have not had much of any information about Australia and its' history in any form like this. This seven episode series filled me in quite well ... and was further interesting to view it just after having viewed another fact-based drama and fact-event series, "Against The Wind." I recommend a comparison viewing with these two series so you can draw your own conclusions. This was a topnotch documentary series and I applaud all those involved ... now, if someone will manage to fix the 3rd episode audio sync copy I viewed (lol)! If I could give more than ten stars I would ... definitely a must see!

wcashley There are few TV shows that can really change the way you think. This is one of them. I never really understood the history of the indigenous people of Australia, and sometimes I found it difficult to understand their present situation and point of view. However, after seeing this series, the human and personal face of these people and their history since European settlement makes sense to me. I am reminded (from my own cultural background) of the very personal stories arising from the Highland Clearances and the great famines of Ireland. Here we have deeply moving and personal stories of the courage, sacrifice, pain, heroism and enduring spirit of the aboriginal people of Australia.