Introduction & Glossary
Religion as Europeans defined it came to Australia in 1788 with British settlement. This unit traces how religious traditions arrived, developed, and shaped Australian society up to 1945.
Christianity arrived with the First Fleet in 1788 — but it was a divided Christianity. The lack of harmony among Christians remained part of Australia's religious history well into the twentieth century.
It was not until the mid-nineteenth century that there was any official recognition of any religious tradition other than Christianity. Relative isolation from the British Isles ensured the religious makeup of Australia changed slowly. The real turning point came with the worldwide upheaval of the Second World War — the end of that war is where this unit ends.
P2 — Identifies the influence of religion and belief systems on individuals and society
P3 — Investigates religious traditions and belief systems
P5 — Describes the influence of religious traditions in the life of adherents
P6 — Selects and uses relevant information about religion from a variety of sources
P8 — Uses appropriate terminology related to religion and belief systems
📖 Glossary — Traffic Light Self-Assessment
Rate your current knowledge of each term using the traffic light, then write a definition in your own words.
Arrival & Establishment of Christianity
Christianity arrived with the First Fleet, but it was never monolithic. Read each sub-topic, write a 25-word summary, then test your understanding with the questions below.
🏛️ Historical Timeline
❓ Knowledge Check — Multiple Choice
The notes describe tensions between the Catholic Irish community and the British colonial authorities. Using evidence from the notes, explain why resentment 'could not have been sharper.'
Aim for 4–6 sentences. Use specific evidence.
🔀 Drag & Drop: Match the Event
Drag each event to the correct year.
Religious Traditions Other Than Christianity
Apart from Judaism, it would be difficult to say that any tradition other than Christianity was established in Australia before 1945. Other traditions, however, were present.
The origins of the 'White Australia' policy go back to the goldfields of the 1850s. Large numbers of Chinese miners with 'foreign' ways and unfamiliar religions were resented by the Anglo-Australian population.
The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 was one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the first Federal Parliament. Rather than focusing on particular nationalities, it prohibited all those who failed to pass a dictation test of fifty words in a European language. It was used to exclude all those who looked 'coloured' — and with them, their religious traditions.
Judaism in Australia
Judaism is the second religion to be established in Australia. The first Jews arrived in 1788 as convicts on the First Fleet. In 1817, the first minyan (a quorum of 10 Jewish men) was formed, along with the Chevra Kaddisha (Jewish Burial Society) — recognised as the formal beginnings of a functioning Jewish community in New South Wales.
In 1830 Aaron Levy became the first Rabbi in Australia. The first official synagogue opened in 1837 in Bridge St, Sydney. By 1878, the Great Synagogue was built in Elizabeth St with Alexander Davis as Chief Rabbi.
Islam in Australia
The first Muslims contacted the Australian continent prior to white settlement. From the 1750s, Macassan fishermen from what is today Indonesia made peaceful visits. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 ended these visits by 1907.
From the 1860s, Muslims came to Australia as camel drivers from modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 1882, the first Islamic mosque was built in Maree, South Australia. During the 1880s–1890s, approximately 3,000 Muslims worked as camel drivers across Australia. The 1920s saw the end of the camel transport industry, and many Muslims had to leave.
📊 Timeline Comparison: Judaism & Islam
Outline the arrival and establishment of TWO religious traditions, other than Christianity, in Australia.
Sectarianism
Sectarianism refers to rivalry or division along religious lines. In colonial Australia, deep Protestant–Catholic tensions shaped every aspect of social and political life.
📋 Flashpoints of Sectarianism — Completion Table
Complete each row of the table. The first has been done for you as a model.
| Flashpoint / Event | What happened? | Impact on Catholics | Effect on relations |
|---|
Looking at the table, which flashpoint do you think had the most lasting impact on sectarianism in Australia? Explain your answer in 2–3 sentences.
Discuss the impact of sectarianism on the relationship among Christian denominations in Australia.
Contribution to Social Welfare
Christian churches provided many social services from 1788–1945, allowing them to provide spiritual guidance while tending to practical needs.
There were few, if any, government provisions for the poor or disadvantaged. It was largely left to the churches or individuals to provide: orphanages, hospitals, prisons, shelters/refuges, homes for the aged, and hostels.
After increased immigration and the gold rushes in the 1850s, these services became increasingly important, especially for the unemployed, immigrants, the poor, the homeless, and those with mental illness or alcoholism.
Arriving in Australia in 1838, Chisholm was concerned at the plight of migrants — particularly young women literally dumped on the docks with no means of support. She established the Female Immigrants' Home and assisted over 10,000 people to migrate and settle in Australia. She earned the title "the immigrant's friend."
In 1897, Bishop Nathaniel Dawes founded the Bush Brotherhoods with preachers on horseback. In the 1920s, John Flynn's Australian Inland Mission developed the Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air. His motto: "For Christ and the Continent."
🔬 Research Activity — Social Welfare Figures
| Name / Organisation | Denomination | Contribution to Social Welfare |
|---|
Examine how Christianity contributed to social welfare in Australia before 1945.
Rural & Outback Communities
The harsh climate and vast Australian terrain meant Christian groups needed to devise new methods to provide ministry to people living in remote areas.
The Bush Brotherhood Movement began in 1897 at Longreach, Queensland. Brothers were upper-class, well-educated, celibate Englishmen recruited for the "romance" of bush ministry. By 1928, six brotherhoods covered over 180 million hectares. Twenty brothers became bishops — eighteen in Australia.
John Flynn (1880–1951) founded the AIM in 1912. He used the wireless and the aeroplane to establish the Flying Doctor Service in the late 1920s and the School of the Air. His motto: "For Christ and the Continent."
Founded 26 May 1919 by evangelical Sydney Anglicans, the BCA was noteworthy for its pioneering use of women missioners. Unlike the brotherhoods, it used married clergy and female volunteers. It developed a reputation for healthcare services, hostels for young people, and innovative use of aeroplanes. The BCA is still working in areas it pioneered in the 1920s.
In the space below, create a revision resource for yourself covering rural and outback communities. This could be a mind map, dot points, a table, key names and dates — whatever works best for you.
Describe the contribution of ONE religious tradition in Australia to rural and outback communities before 1945.
Contribution to Education
Christianity had a significant impact on education in Australia prior to 1945. Three key pieces of legislation shaped the relationship between religion and schooling.
Three Key Acts — Ordered Timeline
📝 Denomination Comparison
Complete the table below comparing how each denomination engaged with education, and how they responded to the Public Instruction Act 1880.
| Denomination | Early Contribution to Education | Response to Public Instruction Act 1880 |
|---|
🔬 Research Activity — Catholic Religious Orders
| Religious Order | Contribution to Education in Australia pre-1945 |
|---|
Describe the contribution of ONE religious tradition to the provision of education in Australia before 1945.
Public Morality
Public morality refers to the attempts made by conservative elements within Christian denominations to enforce certain moral values through legislation.
In general, these attempts at social control — often referred to as wowserism — were viewed negatively and led to the gradual lessening of religious influence on society. Eventually the refusal of the majority of Australians to accept social control by religious authority resulted in a more secular society.
🤔 Thinking Question: Did it Work?
Do you think Christianity's attempts to enforce public morality in pre-1945 Australia were more successful or unsuccessful? Use evidence from the notes to support your view.
Outline the initiatives taken by ONE religious tradition in Australia in the area of public morality before 1945.
Key People Flashcards
Test your knowledge of significant figures in the establishment of Christianity in Australia. Click the card to reveal the answer.
👆 Click the card to flip it · Use arrows to navigate
📝 Significant People Research Table
Research each person and complete the table.
| Name | Denomination | Significance |
|---|
Exam Technique & Practice
Short answer questions require you to attack the question, plan your answer, and write in PEEL structure. Use the directive verb decoder below.
🧪 Full Practice Question
Discuss the contribution of a religious tradition to EITHER rural and outback communities OR public morality before 1945.
Step 1: Attack the question — highlight each part:
Step 2: Planning space:
Step 3: Write your response: