Some Indigenous Australians are remembered in history for their leadership during the British invasion and colonisation, some for their resistance to that colonisation, and others for assisting the Europeans in exploring the country. Some became infamous for their deeds, and others noted as the last of their communities. During the 20th century, some Indigenous Australians came to prominence to make significant contributions to Aboriginal human rights, land rights, to the armed services and to parliamentary representation.

Prior to 1788

• Cumbo Gunnerah – 18th century leader of the Kamilaroi people near Gunnedah, New South Wales

1788–1888

• Arabanoo (c.1758–1789) – Dharug man forcibly abducted by the British to facilitate communication between the two groups
• Ballandella (1832–1863) – Wiradjuri girl taken by Sir Thomas Mitchell, who later became a notable member of the Hawkesbury River Aboriginal community
• William Barak (1824–1903) – ngurungaeta of Wurundjeri, police tracker, then artist
• Barangaroo (c.1750–1791) – prominent Cammeraygal woman during the first period of British colonisation
• Baulie (c.1835–1860) – resistance leader and co-organiser of the Hornet Bank massacre
• Beilba (c.1825–1866) – resistance leader and co-organiser of the Hornet Bank massacre
• Bennelong (c.1764–1813) – representative of the Dharug people and pioneering interlocutor with the British
• Billibellary (1799–1846) – ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri-willam clan
• Biraban (c. 1800–1846) – Awabakal man, who was employed by the British as an interpreter and interlocutor
• Bob Barrett (c.1795–1833) – convict hunter
• Bungaree (c.1775 – 1830) – pioneering Dharug sailor and explorer who travelled with Matthew Flinders and Phillip Parker King.
• Burigon (died 1820) – prominent Awabakal man
• Calyute – leader of the Pindjarup people at the time of the Battle of Pinjarra
• Cora Gooseberry (c.1777–1852) – wife of Bungaree and designated Aboriginal 'Queen of Sydney'
• Derrimut (c.1810–1864) – Bunurong elder during the British colonisation of Melbourne
• Dick Barkinji (?) – Explorer and guide who assisted in the Burke and Wills expedition
• Dundalli (1820–1855) – Resistance leader in South East Queensland during European Settlement
• Eumarrah (c.1798–1832) – Indigenous Tasmanian resistance leader and guide
• Joe Flick (c.1865–1889) – Indigenous Australian outlaw who shot dead a Native Police officer
• Jackey Jackey (1833–1854) – assisted Edmund Kennedy expedition into Cape York and awarded solid silver breastplate for heroic deeds.
• Jandamarra (c.1873—1897) – Bunuba man who resisted European occupation
• Kikatapula (c.1800–1832) – Tasmanian Aboriginal resistance leader and guide
• William Lanne (c.1835–1869) – also known as King Billy, last surviving male of the Oyster Cove clan of Tasmanian Aborigines
• Maria Lock (c.1808–1878) – A Boorooberongal Dharug student of the Native Institution who won first prize in the NSW examination for the year 1819
• Luggenemenener (c.1800–1837) – Tasmanian Aboriginal woman who survived the Black War and was taken captive by John Batman who shot many of her people
• Tommy McRae (c.1835–1901) – artist
• Mannalargenna (c.1770–1835) – Tasmanian Aboriginal leader of the Plangermaireener people
• Maulboyheenner (c.1816–1842) – Tasmanian Aboriginal resistance figure
• Mokare (c.1800–1831) – Noongar guide and peacemaker
• Montpelliatta (c.1790–1836) – Aboriginal Tasmanian resistance leader
• Moowattin (c.1791–1816) – guide and assistant to the botanist George Caley. First Aboriginal person to be legally hanged in New South Wales.
• Johnny Mullagh (1841–1891) – Aboriginal cricketer who was known for his remarkable performance in the 1868 Aborigine cricket team's tour of England.
• Mullawirraburka – Kaurna leader preserving his language and culture during colonisation
• Multuggerah – resistance fighter of the Ugarapul nation from South East Queensland
• Musquito (c.1780–1825) – resistance leader originally from Sydney, became a bushranger following transportation to Tasmania
• Nanya (c.1835–1895) – one of the last Indigenous Australians to live a tribal traditional lifestyle in New South Wales
• Pemulwuy (c.1750–1802) – member of the Dharug people (Botany Bay) area who had a leading role in resisting British colonisation
• Piper (c.1810–?) – Wiradjuri explorer who guided Thomas Mitchell in his 1836 expedition
• Pul Kanta (c.1815–?) – a Maraura man who survived the Rufus River massacre, gave evidence at a magisterial inquiry and later became a guide for Charles Sturt
• Fanny Cochrane Smith (1834–1905) – first Tasmanian Aboriginal Person born on Flinders Island
• Tarenorerer (c.1800–1831) – a female rebel leader of the Indigenous Australians in Tasmania. She led a guerrilla band against the British colonists during the Black War.
• Tedbury (c.1780–1810) – Aboriginal resistance fighter
• Tongerlongeter (c.1790–1837) – Tasmanian Aboriginal resistance leader
• Topar (1826 – ?) – Barkandji man who led Charles Sturt into the Barrier Ranges, pioneering the establishment of Broken Hill
• Truganini (c.1812–1876) – last "full-blooded" Tasmanian Aboriginal person to have survived British colonisation
• Tullamareena – member of Wirundgeri, Melbourne
• Tunnerminnerwait (c.1812–1842) – Tasmanian Aboriginal Australian who acted as a guide for George Augustus Robinson and was executed for resisting British colonisation.
• Turandurey (c.1806–?) – Wiradjuri woman who became a guide for the explorer Thomas Mitchell
• Wild Toby (c.1840–1883) – Aboriginal bushranger from central Queensland
• Willemering (c.1755–c.1800) – Dharug man who speared Governor Arthur Phillip
• Tommy Windich – Western Australian explorer
• Windradyne (or Saturday) – Wiradjuri man, a notable figure of the Aboriginal resistance during the Bathurst War
• Simon Wonga (1824–1874) – ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri people around Melbourne who secured land at Coranderrk, and the suburb Wonga Park was named after him
• Wylie – Aboriginal guide who stayed with Edward John Eyre in their crossing of the Nullarbor
• Yagan – Western Australian leader in 1830s
• Yarramundi – prominent Dharug man, also a karadji
• Yemmerrawanne (c. 1775–1794) – A Dharug man who, along with Bennelong, was the first Aboriginal person to travel to England.
• Yilbung (c.1815–1846) – Turrbal man who actively resisted British colonisation in the Brisbane region
• Yuranigh – provided vital assistance to Thomas Mitchell's 1845 expedition. Highly honoured by the Wiradjuri

1888 onwards

• William Cooper (c.1861–1941) political activist and community leader, first to lead a recognised national Aboriginal movement
• Billy Drumley (1853–1951) – community leader
• Bill Dunn – involved in the Pilbara Strike, and the first Aboriginal man to be granted a pastoral lease in Western Australia.
• Jimmy Governor (c. 1875–1901) – a famous outlaw with his brother Joe Governor
• Douglas Grant (1885–1951) – massacre survivor and soldier for the AIF during WWI
• Vincent Lingiari (1908 or 1919–1988) – prominent Australian Aboriginal rights activist
• Eddie Mabo (1936–1992) – iconic Indigenous Australian man from the Torres Strait Islands known for successfully championing Indigenous land rights into Australian law.
• Cissy McLeod (1896–1928)^[1]
• "Neighbour" – awarded the Albert Medal for Lifesaving^[2][3]
• Nemarluk – leader of the Chul-a-mar, who fought European and Japanese around Darwin in the early 20th century
• Douglas Nicholls (1906–1988) – first Aboriginal Australian to be knighted and hold a vice-regal office
• Charles Perkins (1936–2000) – pioneering Indigenous activist, sportsman and academic
• Reg Saunders (1920–1990) – first Aboriginal Australian to be commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army.
• Marion Leane Smith – First World War nurse
• Umbarra (King Merriman) – late 19th century elder of the Yuin around Bermagui, New South Wales
• David Unaipon or David Ngunaitponi (1872–1967) – Ngarrindjeri preacher, inventor, and author, who is featured on the Australian $50 note.
• Len Waters (1924–1993) – first Aboriginal Australian military aviator, and the only one to serve as a pilot for the RAAF during WWII.