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During the last ice age, Australia was very different from what it is today. The climate was much colder and drier, with temperatures around 5 degrees lower than they are now. The sea levels were also significantly lower, exposing huge areas of land and expanding the continent by almost 40%. The landscape consisted of shifting sand dunes, ice caps, and glaciers, with forests disappearing and many animals going extinct. The indigenous people of Australia were greatly impacted by these changes, with population numbers plummeting due to the harsh conditions. They sought refuge in well-watered areas and adapted to the changing environment, showing the resilience of humans in the face of massive climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Period | 30,000 years ago, peaking 20,000 years ago |
| Climate | 5 degrees colder, much drier |
| Sea Level | 125 meters lower |
| Size | 40% larger |
| Geography | Shifting sand dunes, ice caps, and glaciers expanded over interior Tasmania, the southern highlands of New South Wales, and New Guinea |
| Flora | Forests disappeared, particularly in southwestern Western Australia |
| Fauna | Animals went extinct |
| Population | Aboriginal groups sought refuge in well-watered areas, and populations were condensed into small habitable areas |
| Social Impact | Birth rate decline of over 60%, cultural shifts |
| Connection to Other Regions | Joined with New Guinea and other islands to form the continent of Sahul |
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What You'll Learn
The climate was much colder and drier
During the last ice age, Australia was much colder and drier than it is today. The climate was so harsh that it caused a dramatic decline in the birth rate and a consolidation of the population into small habitable areas. The ice age, which began around 30,000 years ago and peaked 20,000 years ago, saw the Australian landscape transform into a wide brown land of desert, grassland, and savanna, with frequent droughts. The temperature was around 5 degrees colder, and rainfall in some areas, such as South Australia, may have been diminished by up to 90% compared to present levels. This led to the disappearance of forests and the extinction of many animal species.
The large inland lakes began to dry out from around 50,000 years ago, contributing to the arid conditions. Shifting sand dunes expanded across the interior, and ice caps and glaciers covered parts of Tasmania, New South Wales' southern highlands, and New Guinea's mountainous spine. The sea level was approximately 125 meters lower, resulting in the Australian continent being almost 40% larger than it is today. The exposure of vast areas of land allowed Australia to join its island neighbors, forming the enlarged continent of Sahul.
The impact of the ice age on the landscape was significant, and it is estimated that nearly one-third of the land that was Australia during this period is now underwater. As sea levels rose, the coastline shifted, and the landmass shrank, affecting Aboriginal societies and leading to increased population density. The Aboriginal people sought refuge in well-watered areas, such as along rivers, and adapted to the changing environment.
The last ice age in Australia was a period of extreme environmental changes, with the climate becoming much colder and drier. The ice age shaped the geography and ecology of the continent, and the human populations that endured it, leaving a lasting impact on the country's natural and cultural history.
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Sea levels were lower, and the coastline was different
During the last ice age, Australia's coastline was very different from what it is today. Sea levels were significantly lower, exposing huge areas of land and connecting Australia to its island neighbours. The Australian mainland, New Guinea, Tasmania, and many smaller islands formed the enlarged continent of Sahul. The water gaps between the islands of Sahul and Sundaland (a peninsula of Southeast Asia that included present-day Malaysia and western and northern Indonesia) were much narrower and fewer than they are today.
The lowering of sea levels had a profound impact on the geography of the region. The Indonesian islands as far east as Borneo and Bali were connected to the Asian continent, creating a landmass called Sundaland. The Philippine Islands, except for Palawan, formed one large island separated from the continent only by narrow straits. The coastline of Sahul shifted inland by 20 metres or more in a single year due to rising sea levels as the planet warmed.
The lower sea levels also affected the climate and ecology of the region. Forests disappeared, animals went extinct, and major areas lost their surface water. The climate was much colder and drier, with rainfall diminished by up to 90% in some regions. The Aboriginal people of Australia were greatly impacted by these changes, with their populations condensed into small habitable areas near water sources.
The ice age also influenced the migration of humans into the region. As sea levels dropped, Homo sapiens began to migrate out of Africa and eventually settled across Asia and Sahul. The Mt Toba volcano's supereruption around 74,000 years ago may have delayed human migration out of Africa by causing a long volcanic winter. However, by 50,000 years ago, Homo sapiens had reached Southeast Asia and continued their journey to Sahul.
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Human habitation was impacted
Human habitation in Australia was significantly impacted during the last ice age, which began around 30,000 years ago and peaked approximately 20,000 years ago. During this period, the climate cooled dramatically, and the continent became much colder and drier than it is today. The large inland lakes began to dry out, and forests disappeared, leading to the extinction of many animal species.
As a result of these harsh conditions, indigenous Australians were forced to seek refuge in well-watered areas, such as along rivers, and their populations were condensed into small habitable areas. There was a likely decline in the birth rate, and population numbers plummeted. The Aboriginal groups' movement towards these limited habitable areas led to an increase in population density, which may have brought about social, technological, and economic changes in their societies.
The impact of the ice age on human habitation is evident in the Aboriginal oral histories of coastal flooding and migration. The rising sea levels caused by the melting ice sheets significantly affected Australia's coastline, shifting it inland by 20 meters or more in some parts of Sahul, the enlarged continent formed by the joining of Australia and its island neighbors. This radical reconfiguration of the coastline continued for thousands of years, shaping the lives of Aboriginal communities.
The extreme environmental changes during the ice age also influenced the human population's resource utilization. For example, in Lawn Hill Gorge in northwestern Queensland, during the coldest point of the last glacial period, all stone, raw materials, and food remains indicate that people relied exclusively on the resources available within the Gorge area, suggesting very limited or no use of the surrounding landscape.
It is important to note that humans have demonstrated resilience in the face of massive climate change during the ice age in Australia. This knowledge is valuable for preparing for and adapting to future climate events, especially as the current climate reports in Australia cover only a short time span of a couple of hundred years.
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Forests disappeared, and animals went extinct
During the Last Glacial Maximum, southwestern Western Australia experienced the disappearance of its forests. The region, which is the only part of southwestern Western Australia that supports forests today, was a treeless shrubland for about 10,000 years, from 28,000 to 18,000 years ago. The eucalypt strongholds collapsed, and shrublands dominated the landscape.
In southeastern Australia, the scarcity of water during the interval in which humans arrived in Australia suggests that human competition with megafauna for precious water sources may have played a role in the extinction of the latter. The ancestors of the Australian Aborigines, who arrived approximately 50,000 years ago, may have hunted megafauna into extinction or gradually destroyed their habitat through practices like fire-stick burning.
The extinction of megafauna was likely completed by the end of the last ice age. The warming climate and the onset of aridification may have reduced the ability of megafauna to consume certain types of plants, including salt-bush. The large inland lakes, about the size of England, began to dry out from around 50,000 years ago, and most large, predominantly browsing animals lost their habitat.
The diprotodon, one of Australia's megafauna, may have survived on the Liverpool Plains of New South Wales until about 7,000 years ago. The massive Diprotodon optatum was the largest known marsupial, coexisting with the first indigenous people of Australia for thousands of years before becoming extinct about 25,000 years ago.
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There was a birth rate decline of over 60%
During the last ice age, Australia was much drier and colder than it is today. Sea levels were 125 metres lower, exposing huge areas of once-drowned land, and the continent was almost 40% larger than it is now. Northern Australia was joined to Papua New Guinea, and Darwin Harbour was 300km from the coast. The Gulf of Carpentaria became a large, salty inland lake, largely unused by humans. The monsoon, which delivers rainfall across the top third of the continent, was weakened or moved offshore, and the arid zone was greatly expanded.
The large inland lakes began to dry out, and forests disappeared, causing some animals to go extinct. As a result, the availability of food and water decreased, and populations condensed into small habitable areas. This had drastic effects on the population, with a likely birth rate decline of over 60%.
The Aboriginal people of Australia retreated into smaller "refuges" – key areas with access to fresh water. The majority of Australia was simply uninhabitable, and the population numbers plummeted due to harsh conditions. The land that was habitable was limited, and so population density rose, which may have ushered in a new era of social, technological, and economic change.
The last ice age occurred around 20,000 years ago, and the planet began to warm and the ice sheets began to collapse around 10,000 years later. As sea levels rose, the coastline shifted inland, sometimes by more than 20 metres in a year. This continued for thousands of years, with a significant impact on Aboriginal societies.
While the full societal ramifications of the ice age on Aboriginal societies may never be known, the fact that humans withstood such massive climate change may prove vital for preparing for future events.
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Frequently asked questions
During the last ice age, Australia was much colder and drier than it is today. The climate was similar to that of the Last Glacial Maximum, with temperatures around 5 degrees colder and rainfall diminished by up to 90% in some regions.
The sea levels were approximately 125 meters lower, making the continent almost 40% larger than it is today. Australia was joined with New Guinea, Tasmania, and many smaller islands to form the enlarged continent of Sahul.
The ice age caused significant changes to the flora and fauna of Australia. Forests disappeared, and many animals went extinct. The large inland lakes dried out, and shifting sand dunes expanded over the arid interior. The remaining flora and fauna adapted to the new conditions, with remnants of Gondwanan forests persisting in cooler and wetter regions like Tasmania and the Australian Alps.
The ice age had drastic effects on the indigenous populations of Australia. The harsh conditions led to a decline in the birth rate and a consolidation of groups into small habitable areas along rivers and well-watered regions. The rising sea levels reduced the amount of habitable land, leading to an increase in population density and potential social, technological, and economic changes.
