---
node: au_first_australians
type: event
slug: first_australians
title: "Arrival of the First Australians"
lead: "The arrival of humans on the Australian continent at least 65,000 years ago, a key step in the spread of humankind across the globe."
published: 2026-07-15
updated: 2026-07-15
---

## What happened

Modern humans crossed the sea by boat or raft to reach the Australian continent — then part of Sahul, joined to New Guinea. Excavations at the northern site of Madjedbebe date this to at least about 65,000 years ago.

## Background

Ice-age sea levels were lower than today, yet people still had to cross several straits, making this some of the oldest known evidence of sea travel. After arriving, they spread across the whole continent.

## Consequences

This arrival is the starting point of the continuous culture of Aboriginal Australians, giving rise to one of the oldest living cultures in the world.