Selectors and Squatters Lesson

In this lesson, students will examine the conflict over land ownership in colonial Australia and explore how the tension between wealthy squatters and small selectors helped define the country's economic and social development. They will investigate how the Land Acts of the 1860s attempted to address inequalities in land distribution, how squatters responded by using deceptive tactics, and why the image of the honest selector became an important part of the Australian national identity. Students will have the opportunity to achieve this through choosing their own method of learning, from reading, source analysis, and research options, as well as the chance to engage in extension activities. This lesson includes a self-marking quiz for students to demonstrate their learning.