This is a timeline of Aboriginal history of Western Australia.
1629–1829
Aboriginal life in the two centuries from 1629 to 1829, was characterized by the increased presence of Europeans around the Western Australian coastline. First contact appears to have been characterized by open trust and curiosity, with Aborigines willing to defend themselves against any unwarranted intrusion.
See: Territorial evolution of Australia for changes in jurisdiction over the western Australian area. 4 June 1629 After the wreck of the Batavia at uninhabited islands, two young mutineers are marooned on the mainland. 28 April 1656 Wreck of the Vergulde Draeck or Gilt Dragon. 68 survivors made it to the mainland and disappeared. It has been suggested that there was a "white tribe" of Aboriginal people who survived the 19th century. 5 January 1688 William Dampier in the Cygnet arrives at southern latitude 18°21'. He describes the Aboriginal people he met as "the most miserable people in the world". Dampier spent time observing the people at the northern end of Cape Leveque; the encounter was hostile with casualties on both sides. 1699 Return of Dampier in the Roebuck, exploring from Broome to the Pilbara. During this time the Portuguese in Timor raid the Kimberley to enslave Aboriginal people. 1712 The Zuytdorp wrecked near Geraldton. Survivors are known to have landed, and the story of their welcome and preservation by local Aborigines was known as far south as Perth 122 years later. A rock carving of what appears to be a Dutch ship has been found at Walga Rock, some 300 kilometers from the coast, up the Murchison River April 1787 Arthur Phillip, Governor of New South Wales issues instructions to "endeavour by every means possible to open intercourse with the Aborgines, and to conciliate their affections, enjoining all our subjects to live in amity and kindness to them. And if our subjects shall wantonly destroy them, or give them unnecessary interruption in the exercise of their several occupations that you cause such offenders to be punished according to the degree of that offense". 1788 Smallpox and measles arrive with the first fleet on the east coast of Australia and spread across the continent, possibly introduced as a form of biological warfare. 1791 George Vancouver entered Albany harbour. He acknowledged the prior ownership of the land by Aboriginal Mineng people, and took possession of the land for the British crown. His act was premature as annexation of the west was not allowed for another thirty five years. 1801 Matthew Flinders visits Western Australia. The Aborigines called the Europeans , or spirits returned from the dead land of (potentially ), the land beneath the ('sea') in the direction of the setting sun. In King George Sound, although Aboriginal people indicated they did not want Europeans visiting their campsite, amicable relations prevailed and trading occurred. Flinders gave a special parade of the soldiers under his command as thanks. A (Noongar 'corroboree') was adopted by the local people and performed by Aboriginal groups along the south coast for over a century (see Daisy Bates). The Swan River was explored by the French Captain Baudin in the Geographe, and his midshipman Heirisson gives his name to the area known to the Wadjuk Noongar as ("place of leg deep"). 1818 The first of Phillip Parker King's voyages to Western Australia. Mineng Nyungar from Albany assisted the sailors in food gathering. King also explored the Cambridge Gulf area of the Kimberley 1822 King's last voyage. He was welcomed by the Mineng Noongar. 1826 Mokare, one of the Mineng Aboriginal people who later emerged as a key person for the success of early white-Aboriginal relations in Albany, was recorded in d'Urbville's visit of that year. Colbung, ancestor of Aboriginal activist Ken Colbung, is also recorded. 25 December 1826 Major Edmund Lockyer, in the brig Amity, takes possession of King George Sound for the crown, at the orders of Governor Darling. On Michaelmas Island he was signalled by an Aboriginal man, who had been abducted and marooned by sealers. These eight sealers led by a certain Bailey, had also killed another man and abducted women. Randall, another sealer from Tasmania, had also been abducting Aboriginal women, and was arrested by Lokyer. Aboriginal people here expressed their anger at Europeans cutting down trees, but Lokyer chose not to intervene. The Aboriginal site, is renamed Albany, after the Duke of Albany. 1827 James Stirling, in the Success, anchored off the mouth of the Swan River. Exploring the river he was attacked by Aboriginal people at Claise Brook.