Historical Sources Present Perspectives on the Past | Kamay Botany Bay EEC

Stage 3 - History

Location

Kamay Botany Bay EEC - Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell

Unit description

Students explore Kamay Botany Bay National Park through an inquiry into the diverse perspectives that have shaped the site over time, including Aboriginal, European, and contemporary park management viewpoints. Through immersive, place-based learning, they engage with the landscape and its historical traces to critically examine evidence, consider differing interpretations, and develop informed understandings of the past.

drawing of monument and footpath

drawing of meeting place before reconstruction in 2026
Key syllabus outcomes

HS3-ACH-01: describes Aboriginal Knowledges and Practices that care for Country and the importance of Aboriginal Languages revival

HS3-HIS-01: examines and describes the development of Australian colonies and Australia as a nation, using sources as evidence

Content groups

Aboriginal Peoples have diverse Languages

  • Describe the ways Aboriginal Peoples’ Languages and Oral Traditions of song, dance, and story were disrupted by European settlement
  • Explain how Aboriginal Peoples celebrate and share Aboriginal Languages and Cultural Practices in a contemporary world

Sources show perspectives on how people established colonies in Australia

  • Describe and represent the establishment of British colonies in Australia from 1825 to 1868 on a timeline
  • Describe significant contributions made by women to the development of Australian colonies
  • Recount stories of migrants and free settlers in the colonies from 1825 to 1901 using sources as evidence
Suggested timetable
10:00 - 10:30 Introduction, toilets & fruit break
10:30 - 11:30 Aboriginal perspectives on Country-bush walk
11:30 – 12:30 European exploration-beach shoreline and rock platform
12:30 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 Monuments as sources-monuments walk and mapping
2:00 Toilet break, reflection, wrap up, roll call and departure

* There may be variations to timetable based on specific location, group size and weather

Students will: