Australia lost half its Aborigines in the first 50 years of British rule

When white settlers began settling in Australia there were about 700,000 aborigines in about 700 groups, spread all across Australia. They spoke over 250 different languages.

Fifty percent of the indigenous people died after the English began colonising Australia in 1766. The Aborigines lost their lives due to European diseases such as smallpox and flu as well as direct conflict following the English invasion. They had lived in Australia for 30,000 years.

Bonus fact: Most aborigines weren’t allowed to vote in elections in 1967.

Source: National Geographic Answer Book – Fast Facts about our World