Time line of pre/post colonization

Question 1

Pre-European Settlement (Pre-19th Century)

Answer 1

Everything before the settlers came.

Question 2

Who are the Traditional Owners of the region discussed?

Answer 2

The Gunditjmara people

They have lived in the area for at least 40,000 years.

Question 3

What practice were the Gunditjmara known for in relation to aquaculture?

Answer 3

They were one of the world’s earliest known practitioners of aquaculture

They constructed extensive stone channels and weirs at Lake Condah.

Question 4

What species did the Gunditjmara trap and farm?

Answer 4

Short-finned eels (kooyang)

They smoked and preserved these eels for year-round consumption.

Question 5

What does the complex system of stone dwellings and eel farms indicate about Gunditjmara settlement patterns?

Answer 5

It suggests a semi-permanent settlement pattern

This challenges the stereotype of Indigenous Australians as purely nomadic.

Question 6

What is the name of the dormant volcano central to the Gunditjmara’s Dreaming stories?

Answer 6

Budj Bim (Mt Eccles)

The Gunditjmara had a deep spiritual connection to this land.

Question 7

What decade did European sealers and whalers first arrive in the region?

Answer 7

1810s

Question 8

Who anchored in the bay in 1828 and what did he name it?

Answer 8

Captain William Wishart named it Port Fairy

Question 9

In what year was a whaling station established on Griffiths Island?

Answer 9

1833

Question 10

Who was Griffiths Island named after?

Answer 10

John Griffiths, a prominent Tasmanian whaler

Question 11

What happened to many Aboriginal people during the early European contact period?

Answer 11

They were kidnapped or coerced into working for the sealers under harsh conditions

Question 12

What violent clashes occurred between European settlers and which Indigenous group?

Answer 12

Clashes occurred with the Gunditjmara people

Question 13

What were the violent clashes between European settlers and the Gunditjmara people part of?

Answer 13

Australia’s larger Frontier Wars

Question 14

Fill in the blank: Captain William Wishart named Port Fairy after his vessel, the _______.

Answer 14

Fairy

Question 15

True or False: The Eumeralla Wars occurred during the 1830s-1840s.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Who began formalizing Port Fairy’s whaling industry in 1835?

Answer 16

John Griffiths

John Griffiths’ efforts attracted more settlers to the area.

Question 17

What significant action did James Atkinson take in 1843?

Answer 17

He bought 5120 acres of land and planned the township, renaming it Belfast

Belfast was named after Atkinson’s hometown in Ireland.

Question 18

During which decades did the town of Belfast expand due to Irish immigration?

Answer 18

1840s-1850s

Irish immigrants brought farming techniques and Catholic traditions.

Question 19

What agricultural activities contributed to Victoria’s emerging wool industry?

Answer 19

Sheep grazing and wool production

These activities flourished in the region during this period.

Question 20

What was published in 1851 that provided news and opinions from the growing settlement?

Answer 20

The first Belfast Gazette newspaper

This publication marked an important development in community communication.

Question 21

What year was the Port Fairy Lighthouse built?

Answer 21

1853

The lighthouse was constructed on Griffiths Island to guide ships safely into the harbor.

Question 22

During which years did Port Fairy become an important shipping port?

Answer 22

1850s-1860s

The port was significant for exporting wool, wheat, and potatoes to Melbourne and Tasmania.

Question 23

What major infrastructure development occurred in 1862?

Answer 23

The railway line connecting Port Fairy to Warrnambool was built

This development further boosted trade and migration.

Question 24

In what year was the town’s name officially changed back from Belfast to Port Fairy?

Answer 24

1887

This change followed years of debate among the town’s residents.

Question 25

What were the major catches in Port Fairy's fishing industry in the early 1900s?

Answer 25

Rock lobster, crayfish, and abalone. ## Footnote These species were vital to the local economy.

Question 26

What economic event slowed growth in Port Fairy during the 1920s-1930s?

Answer 26

The Great Depression. ## Footnote Despite the slowdown, Port Fairy remained an agricultural hub.

Question 27

In what year was Port Fairy declared a borough?

Answer 27

1961. ## Footnote This declaration recognized Port Fairy's importance as a historic town.

Question 28

What significant development began in Port Fairy during the 1970s-1980s?

Answer 28

Tourism development. ## Footnote The town's 19th-century buildings and scenic coastline attracted visitors.

Question 29

What festival was launched in 1977 in Port Fairy?

Answer 29

The Port Fairy Folk Festival. ## Footnote This festival grew to become one of Australia’s largest folk music festivals.

Question 30

In what year was Port Fairy named one of the world’s most livable small towns?

Answer 30

2007. ## Footnote This recognition was given by the United Nations.

Question 31

What are some attractions that contributed to Port Fairy's tourism boom in the 2010s-present?

Answer 31

* Historic buildings (e.g., Port Fairy Courthouse, Moyne Mill) * Coastal beauty (e.g., Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail, Griffiths Island Walk) * Annual events (e.g., Port Fairy Folk Festival) ## Footnote These factors helped attract thousands of visitors.

Question 32

What was the role of the Gunditjmara people in environmental management?

Answer 32

They were among the world’s earliest environmental engineers. ## Footnote They developed sophisticated aquaculture systems.

Question 33

What materials did the Gunditjmara use for constructing aquaculture systems?

Answer 33

Volcanic stones from the Budj Bim lava flow. ## Footnote This flow was formed around 37,000 years ago.

Question 34

What agricultural technique did the Gunditjmara use to maintain grasslands?

Answer 34

Controlled burning (cultural burning). ## Footnote This practice encouraged the growth of food sources.

Question 35

How was the Gunditjmara’s environmental knowledge preserved?

Answer 35

Passed down orally for thousands of years. ## Footnote This knowledge has been recognized as one of the world's oldest sustainable farming practices.

Question 36

What significant recognition did the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape receive in 2019?

Answer 36

It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. ## Footnote This highlights the environmental and cultural significance of the region.

Question 37

Fill in the blank: The fishing industry in Port Fairy included major catches of rock lobster, crayfish, and _______.

Answer 37

abalone.