| Date | Development history | Cycle | Duration (Years) | Phase Social–economic | Event
or practices that characterize the phases | |
| 1889–1929 | The Forward Move | 1 | 40 | exploitation (r) conservation (K) | Land settlement and expansion of agricultural areas, high wheat and wool prices | |
| 1929–1945 | Depression and War | 1 | 16 | release (W) | Low wheat and wool prices, farms abandoned, drought | |
| 1945–1949 | Recovery | 1 | 4 | reorganization (α) | Farm amalgamation, technological and scientific innovation | |
| Years per cycle: 60 | ||||||
| 1949–1969 | Post-war Boom | 2 | 20 | exploitation (r) conservation (K) | Expansion of agricultural lands, favorable climatic conditions, cheap and abundant fuel, overproduction | |
| 1969–1979 | A Troubled Decade | 2 | 10 | release (W) | Market regulation (wheat quota introduced), widespread land degradation, including salinity, drought | |
| 1980–1990 | Environmental Awareness | 2 | 10 | reorganization (α) | Habitat protection (Conservation through Reserves), Australian Conservation Foundation and National Farmers Federation alliance | |
| 1990–2000 | Decade of Landcare | 2 | 10 | reorganization (α) | Institutional reorganization through partnership programs at national, state, and regional levels for natural resource management | |
| 2000–? | The Turn of the Century | 2 | 3+ | reorganization (α) | Industrial agriculture, increase in use of market-based mechanisms | |
| Years per cycle: 63+ | ||||||