what wiped out most of the indigenous population of australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians#Since_British_settlement
Cause
The most significant event that caused a drastic decline in the indigenous population of Australia was colonisation by Europeans. The arrival of the British in 1788 had devastating consequences for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
To understand how this happened, we need to look at a few key factors:
1. Disease: One of the major factors that contributed to the decline of the indigenous population was the introduction of new diseases by the European settlers. The Indigenous peoples had no immunity to these diseases, including smallpox, measles, influenza, and tuberculosis, which resulted in widespread epidemics and high mortality rates.
2. Violent conflict: The arrival of European settlers brought about violent conflicts with the indigenous populations. Dispossession of land, forced assimilation, and conflicts over resources often led to skirmishes and massacres, causing substantial loss of life.
3. Displacement and forced removals: The British colonial authorities implemented policies that aimed to assimilate or remove Indigenous peoples from their traditional lands. They established missions and reserves, forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families in what is now known as the Stolen Generations. These policies disrupted traditional lifestyles, cultural practices, and social structures, leading to a significant loss of life.
4. Disruption of traditional hunting and food-gathering practices: The introduction of new farming practices, grazing of livestock, and overhunting of native animals by European settlers disrupted the traditional hunting and food-gathering practices of the Indigenous peoples. This, coupled with the loss of access to their ancestral lands, resulted in food scarcity, malnutrition, and increased vulnerability to disease.
It is important to note that the above factors affected different regions and communities in varying degrees. While some communities were completely devastated, others managed to maintain their cultural practices and population size.
Understanding the history of colonization and its impact on indigenous populations is crucial for acknowledging the historical injustices and working towards reconciliation and social justice.