Talk:Demographics of Australia

Timeline of inhabitation
The article in the ancestry section :"The earliest accepted timeline for the first arrivals of indigenous Australians to the continent of Australia places this human migration to at least 65,000 years ago" yet further down, under Indigenous Population: "The earliest accepted timeline for the first arrivals of indigenous Australians to the continent of Australia places this human migration to at least 40,000 years ago"

ValDrip (talk) 22:18, 1 August 2021 (UTC)


 * I believe a more accurate statement would include both the majority theory of 48'000-50'000 years ago as well as the minority theory ranging up to 65'000 years ago. "The earliest dates for human occupation of Australia come from sites in the Northern Territory. The Madjedbebe (previously called Malakunanja II) rock shelter in Arnhem Land has a widely accepted date of about 50,000 years old. Reports of a date close to around 65,000 years old (Nature, 2017), which was contentious at the time, have been rebutted by Allen & O'Connell in 2020. Molecular clock estimates, genetic studies and archaeological data all suggest the initial colonisation of Sahul and Australia by modern humans occurred around 48,000–50,000 years ago." Dorey, F 2021, When did modern humans get to Australia?, Australian Museum, accessed 30 January 2024, . Oskar Suth (talk) 05:32, 30 January 2024 (UTC)

Pre-colonial population
The figures of 300,000 to 2.4 million in 1788 are uncited... and quite frankly ridiculous. For example, the 1924 Commonwealth Year Book estimated just 150,000. Famous Anthroplogist Radcliffe-Brown estimated 242,000-300,000. Lancaster Jones revised that figure down... Henry Reynolds wrote "about 300,000" without showing how he arrived at such a figure. The common theme here though is that no serious academic would suggest it was 2.4 million. 124.148.123.211 (talk) 03:43, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Your personal speculations and mocking add nothing to the discussion. I actually heard a new figure yesterday for Victoria whike driving. It sounded like good research. Didn't pay enough attention to be able find anything today. But give it time. HiLo48 (talk) 03:55, 27 March 2024 (UTC)