Dispossession and Resistance: Land and Identity in the Poetry of Harpur and Noonuccal

This research investigates the portrayal of forceful land-grabbing and its brutalities in Australian literature, focusing on the poetic works of Charles Harpur and Oodgeroo Noonuccal. The research problem addresses the gap in existing scholarship by examining how these poets, spanning different historical periods and cultural backgrounds, represent the dispossession and exploitation of Indigenous peoples and the land. The methodology involves close textual analysis of selected poems, exploring themes of displacement, resistance, and ecological damage. Key findings reveal distinct approaches by each poet: Harpur voice of the settlers and Noonuccal’s powerful voice of Indigenous protest. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities of colonial history and its ongoing impact on contemporary Australian society. The implications extend to contemporary land rights debates and the need for reconciliation and restorative justice.