Shaping Early Australia: The Quick March of the Sheep

This course delves into the transformative impact of sheep on early Australian society, economy, and geography, from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century. As the British settlers and convicts gradually moved beyond the initial settlements in Sydney and Tasmania, it was sheep, not people, that truly unlocked Australia's vast inland expanses. This course traces the history of Australia's evolving sheep industry, from its modest beginnings with early unsuccessful breeds to the arrival of the Spanish merino, which would dominate the landscape and economy. Key themes include the expansion of sheep farming into the interior, often at the expense of Aboriginal lands. Students will examine how sheep reshaped not only the economy but also the geography of the young colony, fuelling the demand for new grasslands, the rise of squatting, and the rapid transformation of towns like Melbourne and Geelong into major wool ports. As Australia's wool exports boomed, profound social and economic changes would ultimately weaken the old convict system and lead to new waves of migration and settlement. In addition to the economic impacts, the course will investigate how the rise of sheep farming heightened tensions between settlers and Indigenous populations, with clashes over land and resources becoming increasingly common. IN DEVELOPMENT: COURSE OVERVIEW ONLY