On the early morning of 17 April 1816 at least 14 people of the Dharawal tribe were killed when James Wallis’ detachment encountered a camp at Appin near the banks of the Cataract River.
Contents
This overview provides a brief explanation of State archives that document the NSW government's interaction with Aboriginal people from 1788 until today.
Records held as State archives
State Records holds a significant number of records as State archives that document the governments' dealings with Aboriginal people. The nature and impact of these dealings has varied greatly over time according to the policy of the day.
The records were usually created by public servants including those at stations and by reserve managers. Unfortunately not all records have survived and many are incomplete due to destruction or loss.
Note on content of some records
Researchers should be aware that the records may contain language, descriptions and opinions which reflect the author's attitude or that of the period in which the records were written. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may consider some of the records to be inappropriate and offensive.
How to find information in archives
State archives are kept in the original order in which they were created by government agencies. To find records relating to people it is important to know what government agencies they may have had contact with.
While State archives relating to Aboriginal people can be found throughout the collection there are some functions and agencies of government that have created more records about Aboriginal people than others. To help people identify agencies and find records we have published A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Aboriginal people (available in the reading room). The Guide lists only those records in our custody which had been arranged and described as of 1998. Researchers should ask State Records staff about records not included in the Guide.
Significant agencies
The implementation and administration of policies affecting Aboriginal people has been conducted by many government agencies overtime from the Colonial Secretary's Department and the Aborigines Welfare Board to current agencies such as the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Agencies that carry out functions such as Education, Health, Social and Community Services, Law and Order and Labour are also likely to create records relating to Aboriginal people.
| Dates | List of some significant Agencies | |
|---|---|---|
| 1788-1883 |
Aborigines Protectorate, Port Phillip Attorney General and Justice Clergy and School Lands Corporation Clerk of the Peace Colonial Secretary Department Commissioners of Crown Lands Corrective Services Courts of Petty Sessions Education |
Governor Health Judge Advocate Lands Mines Police Supreme Court Surveyor General Treasury |
| 1883-1969 |
Board for the Protection of Aborigines Aborigines Welfare Board Housing Commission of New South Wales |
National Parks and Wildlife Service Premier's Office — Premier's Department |
| 1970-present |
Aboriginal Services Branch, Department of Community Services Aboriginal Lands Trust Board of Studies Department of Aboriginal Affairs Department of Community Services |
Office of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment Land and Environment Court Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs NSW Aboriginal Land Council Office of Aboriginal Affairs |
Aboriginal Schools
The establishment of separate Aboriginal Schools in New South Wales led to the creation of records dealing almost exclusively with the primary education of Indigenous children.
Native Institution, 1814
Governor Macquarie founded the first school for Aboriginal children, the Native Institution, in 1814. Located in Parramatta it operated until 1822 when it was succeeded by the Native Institution at Blacktown, which closed in c.1830.
Records relating to the Native Institutions can be found in the Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1825 and in the catalogue under Agency 401: Trustees of the Clergy and School Lands.
1880+
Education for all children in New South Wales became compulsory in 1880 with the proclamation of the Public Instruction Act. Initially the Act supported one public school system. Over time social attitudes, supported by the policies of the Department of Public Instruction, led to the establishment of separate Aboriginal Schools.
Early policies supporting segregation permitted Aboriginal children to attend the local school only if they were considered adequately dressed and well fed, or 'clean, clad and courteous' [1]. The practice of separating Aboriginal children from the non-Aboriginal local school system was illustrated in 1902 with the 'exclusion on demand' policy. The then Minister of Education gave instructions to schools in NSW to remove Aboriginal children upon the request of white parents. The removal of Aboriginal children from local schools created a continuing need for separate Aboriginal Schools.
[1] J.J. Fletcher (1989) Clean, Clad and Courteous: A History of Aboriginal School Education in New South Wales. Southwood Press, New South Wales pp.8 & 61.
What school records are available?
- List of Aboriginal School Files, 1876-1979, NRS 3829 (part)
The records include: applications for the establishment of schools, the schools progress and its physical provision, teachers, and proposed schools. These files are available in the reading room. - List of Aboriginal School Records, 1876-1979, NRS 3931 (part)
The records include: admission books, punishment books, examination books, stock books, visitors books, staff meeting records and observation books.
Aborigines Welfare Board, 1883-1969
The Aborigines Welfare Board (AWB), and its predecessor the Aborigines Protection Board, was the main NSW State government agency responsible for implementing and administering legislation and policies affecting Aboriginal people. The records of the Board are important because they document activities that had a major impact on the lives of Aboriginal people, in particular the 'Stolen Generations' who were removed from their families and communities.
The Board for the Protection of Aborigines was established on 2 June 1883. Comprising six members appointed by the Governor it held weekly meetings at which recommendations concerning the State's Aboriginal population were considered.
The Board functioned without any statutory power until the Aborigines Protection Act 1909. Under this Act the board was enlarged and given the duty 'to exercise a general supervision and care over all matters affecting the interests and welfare of Aborigines and to protect them against injustice, imposition and fraud.' The Board wrote regulations that established local boards for the management of Aboriginal Stations. The Boards principal expenditure was for the distribution of rations, clothing and huts for accommodation.
The Aborigines Protection Amending Act 1915 gave the Board the power to assume control and custody of Aboriginal children if it believed this action to be in the moral or physical interest of the child, and to remove the child to "such care and control as it thinks best".
The Board was reconstituted again under the Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act of 1940, and its name changed to the Aborigines Welfare Board. The duties of the new Board were to: apportion, distribute and apply moneys for the relief or benefit of Aboriginal people; or to assist them in obtaining employment; maintain them whilst employed or otherwise to assist them to become assimilated into the general life of the community; distribute blankets, clothing, and relief to Aboriginal people; provide for the custody and maintenance of Aboriginal children; manage and regulate the use of reserves; exercise a general supervision and care over all Aboriginal people and over all matters affecting their interests and welfare, and to protect them against injustice, imposition and fraud; arrange for the inspection at regular intervals of each station and training school under the control of the Board.
The Board could establish and name homes for the reception, maintenance, education and training of wards (children admitted to the control of the Board) and indenture wards to apprenticeship or employment.
The Board held its final meeting on 29 April 1969 and was replaced by the Aborigines Welfare Directorate, Department of Child Welfare and Social Welfare (later the Aborigines Services Branch, Youth and Community Services).
AWB Examples of records
Not all records of the Aborigines Welfare Board have survived and many are incomplete due to destruction and loss. The main surviving series of records of the Board are listed below.
Administrative records
| Series | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| NRS 2 | Minute Books | 1890-1901, 1905-1906, 1911-1969 |
| NRS 9 | Correspondence Files | 1949-1969 |
Welfare records
| Series | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| NRS 26 | Ward Registers | 1916-1928 |
| NRS 27 | Index to Ward Registers | 1916-c.1938 |
Reserve records
| Series | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| NRS 23 | Registers of Aboriginal Reserves | 1875-1904 |
| NRS 25 | Particulars of Aboriginal stations and reserves | 1962-1963 |
Financial records
| Series | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| NRS 15 | Ledgers (Trust Account) | c.1897-1922 |
| NRS 16 | Registers of expenditure of the Board | 1898-1905, 1922-1924 |
| NRS 20 | Salary Register (Trust Accounts) | 1922-1934 |
AWB Photographs, c.1919-1966
Care when viewing the photographs
Some Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities may be distressed by seeing the name or image of a community member who has passed away.
| Series | Title | Dates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(Reels 2796-2797; Aperture Cards 8186-9224; COD 423) |
Photographs These images are the surviving photographic records of the NSW Aborigines Welfare Board. There are approx. 1000 black and white photographs of Aboriginal people taken between 1919 and 1966. Who's in the photographs? The photographs are a mixture of official and personal subjects. Most of the photographs were taken to document the work of the Aborigines Welfare Board and to promote its policies. The collection includes images of christenings; first communions; weddings; birthdays; Christmas parties; children visiting Sydney for annual summer camps; and people participating in sporting activities, such as football, cricket and swimming. The more personal photographs of people range from formal studio portraits of young Aboriginal women in the 1920s to snapshots in the 1950s and 1960s. Official photographs include interior and exterior views of housing projects and schools. Also included are photographs of pupils and teachers, station managers and matrons. They also record the visits of Government officials. A lot of what we know about the images comes from personal and official inscriptions found on the reverse side of some of the photos and from links that have been made with other Aborigines Welfare Board records. Important information is also coming from the memories and experiences of people pictured in the photos or from the confirmation of their families and communities. All of this valuable detail is going into a photographic database, which will enable visitors to our reading room to search for individuals, places and institutions. Many of the photographs are still undated and the people shown unknown. Where were they taken? The photographs were taken throughout New South Wales at many reserves and stations. A small number of photographs were taken in Queensland. Identified places in the photographs
Viewing the photos To protect the original photographs only copies of the photographs are available to view in our reading room. Publishing the photos To publish any of the images you must have the permission of Aboriginal Affairs NSW. |
c.1924-1961 |
Access to the records
Most State records are Open to Public Access (OPA) once they are 30 years old. Records that contain sensitive, personal information, however, are Closed to Public Access (CPA) for a longer period, such as records of the Aborigines Welfare Board. For example:
- records of Aboriginal schools are OPA after 30 years
- the ward registers of the Aborigines Welfare Board are CPA for 100 years.
Access directions determine whether the records are open or closed public access. These directions are made by the government agency that is responsible for the creation and/or administration of the records, including those held as State archives for continuing sensitivity. For example:
- access to the records of the Aborigines Welfare Board is administered by Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
The Register of Access Directions provides details on what records are open and what records are closed to public access. You can learn more about public access to State records in the Access to the Records Guide.
If you are unsure what records are open or closed to public access our staff can help you.
Open to Public Access (OPA)
The Western Sydney Records Centre (WSRC) is located at Kingswood. All original records (uncopied records) are held at WSRC.
To access original records you will need a reader's ticket; to obtain a reader's ticket you need to show two forms identification to confirm your name, address and signature.
Closed to Public Access (CPA)
How to access closed records of the former Aborigines Welfare Board
Aboriginal Affairs NSW (AANSW) is the government agency responsible for the records of the former Aborigines Welfare Board. To access closed records you will need to contact the Family Records Unit. AANSW are also responsible for assessing access to records for non-family research. The website provides details of their services and copies of application forms.
AANSW will check indexes to identify if there any records relating to your request. If there are any records, and they approve your application, AANSW will either send you copies of the records or send you a letter authorising access and/or copying of the relevant records at State Records.
Family History Unit, Aboriginal Affairs NSWLevel 3,
35 Bridge Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Telephone: 1800 019 998
Application process
AANSW will check indexes to identify if there any records relating to your request. If there are and they approve your application the AANSW will either send you copies of the records or send you a letter authorising access and/or copying of the relevant records at State Records.
If you receive a letter you will need to present the letter authorising you to view the records when you visit State Records. If you are viewing original records you will also need to apply for reader's ticket. You will need one form of identification to obtain a readers' ticket.
Help in accessing records
Link-Up services
Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation was founded around 1980 to assist all Aboriginal people who have been fostered, adopted or raised in institutions to reconnect with their family.
Link-Up NSW Aboriginal Corporation
PO Box 93, Lawson NSW 2783
Telephone: 1800 624 332 or (02) 4758 1011
Email: linkup@nsw.link-up.org.au
Website: www.linkupnsw.org.au
Other organisations that hold records
In NSW
- Aboriginal Affairs NSW - working to achieve social, economic and cultural independence
- AIATSIS - Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies. AIATSIS has an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Biographical Index (ABI) available to search online. The ABI is a personal name index to published material held in the AIATSIS Library. AIATSIS also holds the digitsed collection of the Dawn and New Dawn magazines.
- DAWN Magazine - a magazine for the Aboriginal people of NSW
- State Library of NSW Indigenous Services - working with Indigenous communities across NSW to preserve and manage Indigenous documentary heritage resources. The State Library of NSW has an index to material held at the State Library relating to Aboriginal people called InfoKoori.
Related Indexes
- Documents relating to Aboriginal people and the law, 1797-1840
Available at the Centre for Comparative Law History and Governance of Macquarie University website. Original documents and transcriptions covering the period between 1797 and 1840. These are believed to have been collected by Justice William Burton of the Supreme Court of NSW.
Records held outside of NSW
Australian Capital Territory
National Archives of AustraliaBringing Them Home Name Index enquiries
PO Box 7425, Canberra BC ACT 2610
Telephone: (02) 6212 3900
Freecall: 1300 886 881
Email: ref@naa.gov.au Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
Family History Unit
GPO Box 553, Canberra ACT 2601
Freecall: 1800 730 129
Email: family@aiatsis.gov.au Australian War Memorial
GPO Box 345, Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6243 4211 Noel Butlin Archives Centre
ANU Archives Program, Division of Information
Building 2, Menzies Library
Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200
Telephone: (02) 6125 2219
Email: butlin.archives@anu.edu.au
South Australia
State Records of South AustraliaAboriginal Access Team
GPO Box 1072, Adelaide SA 5001
Telephone: (08) 8343 6820 or (08) 8204 8798
Email: srsaAboriginalSevices@saugov.sa.gov.au
Tasmania
Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office77 Murray St, Hobart TAS 7000
Telephone: (03) 6233 7488
Email: archives.tasmania@education.ta.gov.au
Victoria
Public Records Office Victoria
Koori Records UnitVictorian Archives Centre
PO Box 2100, North Melbourne VIC 3051
Telephone: (03) 9348 5600
Freecall: 1800 657 452
Email: ask.prov@prov.vic.gov.au
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Archives ServicePO Box 874, Darwin NT 0801
Telephone: (08) 8924 7677
Email: nt.archives@nt.gov.au
Queensland
Queensland State ArchivesPO Box 1397, Sunnyhills QLD 4109
Telephone: (07) 3131 7777
Email: info@archives.qld.gov.au Department of Communities and Personal Histories
Freecall: 1800 650 230 Email: enquiries@datsima.qld.gov.au
Western Australia
Family Information Records Bureau
Family and Children's Services189 Royal St, East Perth WA 6004
Telephone: (08) 9222 2777
Freecall: 1800 000 277
State Records Office of Western Australia
Aboriginal Family HistoryAlexander Library Building
James St West Entrance
Perth Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9427 3360
Email: sro@sro.wa.gov.au
Department of Indigenous Affairs
Aboriginal Family History Information ServicesLevel 1, 197 St George's Tce, Perth WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9235 8075
For more information on State Records relating to Aboriginal people please contact the Manager, Public Access, (02) 9673 1788 or email accman@records.nsw.gov.au.
ARCHIVES IN BRIEF
Content in this Guide first appeared in Archives in Brief 25 - NSW State archives relating to Aboriginal people, Archives in Brief 42 - Aborigines Welfare Board, 1883-1969 , Archives in Brief 44 - Aboriginal Schools and Archives In Brief 78 - Access to records relating to Aboriginal people
What's happened with Archives in Brief »