Lesson plan
Topar
Topar (1826 – ?) was an Indigenous Australian of the Barkandji people from the Menindee Lakes region of the Darling River. As a child in 1835 he witnessed the British exploratory group led by Thomas Mitchell enter his country and kill at least three of his kin in a dispute over a kettle. In 1844, at the age of eighteen, he volunteered to lead another explorer, Charles Sturt, into the barren region northwest of the Darling River. Topar led Sturt's group into the Barrier Ranges locating watersources and food. Sturt had an ambivalent attitude toward Topar, whom he admired for his youthful confidence and physical dexterity, but also disparaged for his impulsiveness and pilfering. British colonists were soon able to exploit Topar's path into the Barrier Ranges, allowing pastoralists to establish the Mount Gipps Station and other runs. The mining industry later became prominent with the foundation of the world famous Broken Hill mines. Topar Hill, Topar pastoral station and the locality of Little Topar east of Broken Hill are named in his honour.
Article summary
Topar (1826 – ?) was an Indigenous Australian of the Barkandji people from the Menindee Lakes region of the Darling River. As a child in 1835 he witnessed the British exploratory group led by Thomas Mitchell enter his country and kill at least three of his kin in a dispute over a kettle. In 1844, at the age of eighteen, he volunteered to lead another explorer, Charles Sturt, into the barren region northwest of the Darling River. Topar led Sturt's group into the Barrier Ranges locating watersources and food. Sturt had an ambivalent attitude toward Topar, whom he admired for his youthful confidence and physical dexterity, but also disparaged for his impulsiveness and pilfering. British colonists were soon able to exploit Topar's path into the Barrier Ranges, allowing pastoralists to establish the Mount Gipps Station and other runs. The mining industry later became prominent with the foundation of the world famous Broken Hill mines. Topar Hill, Topar pastoral station and the locality of Little Topar east of Broken Hill are named in his honour.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.