Learn more about each key event and check the answers for our quiz on Australian environmental history.
B. The Cactoblastis cactorum moth was introduced to control prickly pear
Image: Explorer and author Michael Terry standing in a patch of prickly pear after crossing the Gwydir River at Bingara, New South Wales, 1921. National Library of Australia obj-149017445
A. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was created by the Australian Government in 1975
Image: Coral outcrop on Flynn Reef. Photo: Toby Hudson. Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0
C. Activism around the Franklin Dam resulted in the eventual formation of the Australian Greens political party
Image: Protesters at the Franklin River. National Archives of Australia A6135, K16/2/83/4
A. Research suggests the dingo was introduced to Australia about 5000 years ago
Image: A dingo on Fraser Island, Queensland. Photo: Glen Fergus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
A. Merino sheep originated from Spain
Image: Merino sheep. Courtesy: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos via Wikimedia Commons
B. Flood struck Gundagai in 1852
Image: The Gundagai flour mill surrounded by water during a flood in 1900, by Charles Gabriel. National Library of Australia obj-139763356
D. Silver was discovered in Broken Hill in 1885, leading to the founding of BHP
Image: View of Broken Hill, 1888–91, by George Jenkinson. State Library of New South Wales image 446151
B. Murray River irrigation work began at Renmark and Mildura in 1884
Image: Mildura Orchards, by JW Lindt, 1890. State Library of Victoria H96.160/1915
A. The Federation Drought lasted eight years
Image: The Drought, Sheep at a Dry Creek by Samuel Calvert, 1879, engraving, 22 x 34 cm. National Library of Australia 1579178
C. Cyclone Mahina was Australia's deadliest cyclone, causing over 300 deaths
Image: Tropical Cyclone Yasi off the Queensland coast, February 2011. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team
B. The first life saving club in Australia was established at Bondi in 1907
Image: Surf lifesavers, Mollymook, New South Wales, 2006. Photo: Dean McNicoll
C. Douglas Mawson led expeditions that claimed 42 per cent of Antarctica for Australia
Image: Interior of Commonwealth Bay living hut, from left Mertz, McLean, Madigan, Hunter and Hodgeman, Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 8 June 1912. National Library of Australia obj 141769718
C. CSIRO stands for Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Image: CSIRO’s marine research vessel, RV Investigator. CSIRO, Australia
B. Toads were introduced to control beetle infestation in sugar cane crops
Image: Cane fields at Jungara, south of Cairns in 1935. Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 1226
A. Water was used to generate power from the Snowy Mountains
Image: Workers pose before going on shift in the Tooma–Tumut tunnel. National Archives of Australia 1/1960/16/55
D. Plutonium contamination occurred at Maralinga during the testing of nuclear weapons
Image: A man in protective clothing at Maralinga with a camera also protected by a plastic cover. National Archives of Australia A6457, P214
B. The export ban on iron ore was partially lifted
Image: A giant power shovel and 95-ton trucks working on the Hamersley railway, May 1966. National Library of Australia obj-137443783
B. The Black Saturday bushfires ravaged Victoria in 2009
Image: The Kinglake National Park after the Black Saturday bushfires, 2009. CSIRO
C. Dark purple is used to represent temperatures between 50 and 54 degrees
Image: Sunset over Sydney, 2011. Photo: Alex Proimos, Creative Commons, CC BY-NC 2.0
C. Tasmania was separated from the mainland due to sea level rises
Image: Residence of the Aborigines, Flinders Island by John Skinner Prout, 1846. Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office
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