136-313 Environmental History of Australia (Sc3)

Formerly a available as 131-279/379/064. Students who have completed 131-279/379/064 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. Students cannot gain credit for both this subject and 136-213 Environmental History of Australia. Only available at science third year; for other levels see 136-213 Environmental History of Australia. This subject is based on 136-213 but involves additional work.

Usually two second-year HPS subjects.

This subject will examine the forces which shaped the Australian environment before colonisation, and modern scientific debates over Aboriginal impacts on the environment. Taking as a central theme the role of science and technology, it will examine British/European attitudes towards lands they 'discovered', and the consequent treatment of the Australian land mass, flora and fauna. Students should complete the subject with a knowledge of such issues as the contribution of agricultural science to development in Australia; the impact on the environment of European means of production; the technology of urban development and the environmental impact of urban growth; responses to the landscape as reflected in the arts, and the desire to transform the landscape to conform to European perceptions; the scientific and cultural debates over optimum population size; and the evolution of conservation and environmental consciousness and action in Australia. There will be a special study of Melbourne water - potable, waste and streams.

Written work totalling 6000 words.

A subject reader will be available.

• Geoffrey Bolton, Spoils and Spoilers: Australians Make Their Environment 1788-1980. Sydney, 1981.
• Tim Flannery, The Future Eaters: An Ecological History of the Australasian Lands and People. Sydney, 1994.
• Thomas Dunlap, Nature and the English Diaspora: Environment and History in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. CUP, 2000.
• Drew Hutton & Libby Connors, A History of the Australian Environmental Movement. CUP, 1999.
• Martin Mulligan & Stuart Hill, Ecological Pioneers: A Social History of Ecological Thought in Australia. CUP, 2001.