Table 1. Key dates in government-pastoral interactions. Date 1788: European colonisation of Australia 1840: End of convict transportation and cheap labour 1852 and after: Mining drives rapid trebling of colony’s population and urbanisation, leading to end of pastoral political hegemony by 1890s. 1871 and after: Wool overtakes gold as largest export earner. Late 1890s: Wool price collapse 1930s: the “Great Depression” After 1945: Soldier settlement on small unviable leases for returning WWII veterans 1950s: End of closer settlement policies. 1980–1990s: Environmentalism growing among urban voters leads to policy responses in 1990s.