Significant individuals: David Unaipon
Students explore the factors that led to Federation and experiences of democracy and citizenship over time. Students learn about the significance of Australia's British heritage, the Westminster system and other models that influenced the development of Australia's system of government.
Student Activities
Biography planner
Students examine sources from the State Library collection and conduct their own research into David Unaipon's contribution to Australian society.
Persuasive text
Using the Biography Planner from Activity 1, students write a persuasive exposition that explains why David Unaipon was chosen for the $50 note.
NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum History K - 10
HT3-1 describes and explains the significance of people, groups, places and events to the development of Australia
HT3-2 describes and explains different experiences of people living in Australia over time
HT3-5 applies a variety of skills of historical inquiry and communication
The contribution of individuals and groups, including Aboriginal people and/or Torres Strait Islanders and migrants, to the development of Australian society, for example in areas such as the economy, education, science, the arts, sport. (ACHHK116)
Students:
use a range of sources to investigate the role of a particular man, woman or group and the contributions each made to the shaping of the colony.
Comprehension: Chronology, terms and concepts
- use historical terms and concepts (ACHHS099, ACHHS118)
Use of sources
- locate information related to inquiry questions in a range of sources. (ACHHS102, ACHHS121)
Perspectives and interpretations
- identify points of view in the past and present (ACHHS104, ACHHS123)
Research
- identify and locate a range of relevant sources to support an historical inquiry (ACHHS101, ACHHS120)
Explanation and communication
- develop texts, particularly narratives and descriptions, which incorporate source materials (ACHHS105, ACHHS124)
- use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and digital technologies(ACHHS106, ACHHS125)
Cause and effect: events, decisions or developments in the past that produce later actions, results or effects
Significance: the importance of an event, development or individual/group
Learning across the curriculum:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
- Literacy
- Personal and social capability
- Work and enterprise
What contribution have significant individuals and groups made to the development of Australian society?
Background notes for teachers
Background information about David Unaipon
David Unaipon was born at the Point McLeay Mission in South Australia where his father, James Ngunaitponi, had been appointed church deacon. When David was thirteen he began working as a servant for CB Young, who encouraged what would be a life-long infatuation with philosophy, literature and science. However despite his singular and extensive self-education there were no opportunities for Aboriginal people of his talents, and he was frustrated in obtaining any intellectually demanding work.
Despite these setbacks, his obsession with the idea of developing mechanisms for achieving perpetual motion bore fruit when he applied his knowledge more practically and patented a modified shearing handpiece in 1909. Its innovation was that it changed the movement of the shears from a circular to a lateral direction, greatly improving its efficiency.
Over the next few years David Unaipon continued to improve plans and prototypes with some financial assistance from the anthropologist Herbert Basedow. By 1944 David Unaipon had made nine different applications to patent various inventions but was never able to fully develop and take advantage of these patents due to lack of money.
In addition to his inventiveness David Unaipon was also a political advocate of equality for Aboriginal people and assisted inquiries and commissions into Aboriginal welfare and treatment. In 1927 when his book of Aboriginal legends, Hurgarrda was published, he became the first Australian Aboriginal author. This was followed by Kinnie Ger - the Native Cat in 1928 and his main work, Native Legends, in 1929. A collection of his legends was published, without acknowledgement, by W. Ramsay Smith as Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals in 1930. He also published several autobiographical works in later life.
As a committed Christian and evangelist he travelled widely in South Australia, preaching in cities and towns up until his retirement at age 87. He died aged 94 at Tailem Bend.
Featured Content
To download the Mari Nawi: Aboriginal Odysseys transcript, click here.
Additional resources
- Philip Jones, 'Unaipon, David (1872–1967)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
- Australian War Memorial: Forging the nation: Federation, the first twenty years