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Early Pastoral Landscapes and Culture Contact in Central Australia

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Abstract

The arrival of British pastoralists throughout central Australia from the 1850s marked the introduction of wool production, predominantly for industrialized Britain. Pastoral industries were both capitalist and colonizing enterprises. Archaeological research and historical documents from pastoral station managers reveal how indigenous people were involved in the workings of Strangways Springs Station in northern South Australia (1860–1900). Research reveals differential Aboriginal involvement in the pastoral industry, indicated by two phases in the development of the pastoral station. Changes in pastoral work practice over time influenced cultural interaction.

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Paterson, A. Early Pastoral Landscapes and Culture Contact in Central Australia. Hist Arch 39, 28–48 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03376692

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