Lifestyles and traditions

Aboriginal culture is complex and diverse. Prior to colonisation the very distinctive and culturally unique groups that made up Aboriginal Australia shared a number of common traits. Two examples are:

• Hunters and gatherers. Aboriginal were nomadic hunter and gatherers, with each clan having its own territory from which the members made their living.
• Tool technology. Aboriginal people all had knives, scrapers, axe heads, spears, digging sticks and various other vessels for eating and drinking.

Click on the links below to find out more about different aspects of Aboriginal lifestyles and traditions

Aboriginal kinship

Differences between Aboriginal culture and Western society