The Indigenous history of Launceston has been made available through a new website that shines a light on the pre-colonial history of the Aboriginal people of the region.
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Aboriginallaunceston.com.au was believed to be the first site of its kind in Australia and tells the history of the Stoney Creek people who lived in the Tamar Valley for a thousand generations.
The website was developed by historian and academic Dr Michael Powell and Indigenous historian Dr Aunty Patsy Cameron.
More than 30 Indigenous and non-Indigenous academics, scholars and community members also contributed to the website.
Dr Powell said the website would provide information about a complex period in Tasmania's history in a culturally sensitive way.
"The intention always was not to sort of burden people with stuff or to make it onerous, but to make it accessible, that accessibility is really important for what we're doing," he said.
Dr Powell said ensuring the project included local Indigenous consultation was of the utmost importance.
He said Dr Cameron's contribution and cultural knowledge to the project was invaluable.
Dr Cameron said she was drawn to the project because it was important to show how the first Tasmanians of Tamar Valley lived.
"The city of Launceston, It's an Aboriginal place of the Stoney Creek Nation and Launceston is built at the heart of that nation," she said.
Dr Cameron said she hoped people would see the history of Launceston went back far longer than contemporary history suggests.
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One of the contributors who helped inform the site was historian Dr Tom Dunning who said the site was an invaluable tool for educating the next generation.
"We're hoping that we can get some of the teachers to either use the site themselves or to direct their students to it," he said
Dr Cameron said the project was intended to benefit anyone interested in the history of the region.
"It's a pathway to truth and reconciliation. The first of its kind and it will evolve over time and hopefully, others will see its value," she said.
"Hopefully, it will bring about a change in how people think about Launceston."
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Andrew Chounding
An experienced multi-platform journalist focusing on the issues that impact health in Tasmania. With a background in social research and public policy, health reporting for Andrew is about ensuring the best health outcomes for the Northern Tasmanian community. Contact Andrew at: andrew.chounding@examiner.com.au or 0437 358 262
An experienced multi-platform journalist focusing on the issues that impact health in Tasmania. With a background in social research and public policy, health reporting for Andrew is about ensuring the best health outcomes for the Northern Tasmanian community. Contact Andrew at: andrew.chounding@examiner.com.au or 0437 358 262
