Africans in AustraliaArrived on Australia’s shores with the first fleet in 1787
African-Australians contribute so much to this great state of Queensland. According to history, people of African descent first arrived on Australia’s shores with the first fleet in 1787. Even before federation in 1901, Africans came as skilled sugar workers who significantly supported Queensland’s sugar industry. Since then African-Australians have continued to make enormous contributions to Queensland in many sectors such as business, sport, politics, medicine, law, engineering, the arts and entertainment. Others are excelling as community leaders among other portfolios in government, non-government organisations and the private sector.