Europeans and the Australian Environment

According to Mitchell, what impact were settlers having upon the environment?

Explorer Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, in his 1848 writing “Of the Aborigines” purveys a sense of understanding of the negative impact Europeans settlers were having on the Australian environment. Mitchell speaks quite perceptively about the cycle of dependence of “fire, grass, kangaroos and human inhabitants”, understanding the importance of previous indigenous management of the land. Mitchell indeed is quite complementary of the Indigenous Australian’s he has encountered, considering the essential practises of firestick farming by Aboriginal Australians for both their own benefit, and to help control the forest and keep it well managed. Periodical burning of the forest allowed for the regrowth of local plant species, and, due to the fresh growth of plants, encouraged kangaroos to graze, which the Indigenous inhabitants could then hunt.  Mitchell points out that if there had not been Indigenous management of the land through burning, the Australian bushland would not have any of its open forests or clear land needed for cattle farming. Ceasing the burning of the land by Indigenous inhabitants would cause a major disruption in ancient and traditional practises of land management, and greatly disrupt the natural forest environment.

In addition, Mitchell points out the gross mismanagement by European settlers and the Imperial Government. Though, as he points out, some settlers have practised burning on their land to remove old grass, the government, simply from their own misunderstandings, had banned the burning of the forest. The environmental consequences of ceasing controlled annual burning, has lead to growth of thick forest around Sydney, which has become almost impenetrable. Because of this, kangaroos no longer graze in the area, and there has been less growth of grass and open forest area needed for the farmers of cattle. Due to the departure of Aboriginal inhabitants in the area, the forest is no longer cleared and managed in the traditional way. The new growth encouraged by burning the land is no longer apparent, and forests have become thick and dense, rather than the open forests they once were.

Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, oil painting by an unknown artist ca. 1830. Mitchell perceived the importance of the traditional indigenous use of fire as a land management practise. (Source:  State Library New South Wales http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/people_places/east/settlers/mitchell.html)