Australia is a fascinating country but the demographics which inhabit the country now have only been there for around 500 years. This is why many people think of it as a young country without the history that you get in Europe. However, these 500 years only include the time in which Australia has been inhabited by people of European descent. The history of the country actually goes back much further than that.
The indigenous people of Australia are known as Aboriginal people. As far as we know, this is the oldest ethnic group that exists there. Of course, people originally came from Africa and then spread to the other continents. It’s thought that Aboriginals have inhabited Australia for more than 60,000 years. That’s an incredibly long time and one that is difficult to wrap your head around.
I recently went on an Aboriginal tour with a company called Welcome To Country. I learned so many new facts that just aren’t taught to people in Europe or North America. Did you know for example that the Aboriginal people are the oldest civilization on Earth? A recent DNA study confirmed that no other civilization has inhabited the country for longer. That means that, despite Australia’s image as a recent country, it’s actually home to the oldest civilization on Earth. So, in actual fact, you could say that Australia is more than 60,000 years old rather than a mere 500.
If you ever visit the country, I highly recommend exploring this ancient heritage. The Aboriginal people are suffering right now with poor health and economic conditions but they’re starting to earn a better living through tourism. Their beliefs and traditions are fascinating and you can take these tours to support their well-being. You can book an Aboriginal tour experience by visiting this website.
