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The Latest Breaking News from the First Fleet

Australia home to two million before Europeans arrived

First Nations people suffered an estimated 93 per cent population loss in less than 80 years following the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, researchers say.

AAP · Sep 15

In 1968, Australia released 275,000 dung beetles across its cattle country to solve a problem caused by imported cattle

Australia's dung beetle problem began almost two centuries before scientists found a solution, when European settlers introduced cattle whose droppings were unlike anything most native Australian dung beetles had evolved to process. The First Fleet brought five cows and two bulls in 1788, and as cattle numbers grew, their large,…

The Times of India · Aug 19

In 1789, one mysterious outbreak changed Australia's history; scientists may have solved it

In 1789, a horrific outbreak devastated Indigenous Australians around Sydney Harbor. Up to 70% of local First Nations people died. For over 200 years, the cause remained a mystery. Now, scientists solved it. Computer modeling points directly to the British First Fleet. Dried smallpox scabs, carried in medical vials, likely…

The Economic Times · Jul 23

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British vial of smallpox scabs triggered the devastating 1789 outbreak among Indigenous Australians, study finds

It's long been debated what started the devastating 1789 smallpox outbreak among Indigenous Australians. Now, a new modeling study has the likely answer.

LiveScience · Jul 20

In 1788, cats were brought to Australia after more than 200 years later, the country's native wildlife is still paying the price

The domestic cat arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788, introduced as a familiar companion and a practical way to control rodents. Within decades, many had escaped or been abandoned, gradually establishing wild populations far beyond early settlements. By the late nineteenth century, they had spread across almost…

The Times of India · Jul 9

Impacts of colonisation on dingoes are ‘written in their bones’, new research finds

Dingoes are no ordinary dogs. They trace their roots back to an ancient Asian lineage and made their way to Australia more than 3,500 years ago.

The Conversation · Nov 24, 2025

From reflection to resistance: how mob will mark Jan 26

January 26 brings mixed emotions for many Indigenous people, with some reflecting or mourning, gathering for protests or spending time on Country.

AAP · Jan 24, 2025

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Captain Cook statue disfigured and painted red in Sydney ahead of Australia Day

Police say they are investigating incident which saw statue’s hand and nose knocked off

The Independent UK · Jan 24, 2025

Casting a spotlight on the Black convicts of African descent who helped shape Australia

It is a new idea to many Australians that their past is connected to the tragic history of transatlantic slavery.

The Conversation · Nov 19, 2024

Sirius House losing its 'controversial' moniker in a private renaming ceremony

APS office is getting its new name, but the public is not invited.

The Canberra Times · Aug 30, 2024

Health to rename Sirius Building following staff concerns

The change will take effect next month.

The Canberra Times · Aug 9, 2024

Sirius talk: What you said about Health's plan to ditch First Fleet connection

Readers speak out on plans to rename Sirius building.

The Canberra Times · Apr 12, 2024

'You cannot be Sirius': First Fleet link 'concern' prompts building name change

But no objections to nearby building named after a convict ship.

The Canberra Times · Apr 9, 2024

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