why was european rabbit introduced to australia
Initially, European rabbits were brought to Australia on the First Fleet but it is not known why. There is no evidence that they were either eaten or hunted for sport in the Sydney area.Rabbits became popular as pets and for sport around Sydney in the 1840s.The real problem began when a farmer named Thomas Austin,who had a property in Winchelsea, Victoria, introduced European rabbits into Australia, leading to their current plague proportions.abbits became popular as pets and for sport around Sydney in the 1840s. The real problem began when a farmer named Thomas Austin,who had a property in Winchelsea, Victoria, introduced European rabbits into Australia, leading to their current plague proportions.