Why was reconciliation between Aboriginal peoples and European Australians an important theme in late 20th-century Australian literature?

Reconciliation between Aboriginal peoples and European Australians became a vital theme in late 20th-century Australian literature as the nation grappled with the need for mutual understanding and a reckoning with its history. During this period, Australian society increasingly confronted the "dark side" of its past, moving away from the historical assumption that Indigenous cultures would simply vanish.12

This literary focus was driven by several factors:

• Recognition of Identity: Aboriginal writers, such as Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Sally Morgan, began to assert their presence and reclaim their family histories and cultural identities, challenging the long-standing marginalization of Indigenous voices.1
• Legal and Social Shifts: Landmark events, such as the Mabo case, which overturned the doctrine of terra nullius (the legal fiction that Australia was "land belonging to no one"), catalyzed a national reassessment of Indigenous land rights and historical injustices.3
• Literary Exploration: Authors like Thea Astley explicitly addressed the dual challenge of effecting reconciliation while reconciling white Australians to their own history.1

Ultimately, this literature reflects a broader shift in the country's cultural consciousness, as writers sought to move beyond a homogeneous view of society toward a deeper acknowledgment of the diverse cultural and ethnic differences within Australia.1