Murchison Aboriginal History Timeline
by Marion Baumgarten
| 1860 | Aborigines pointed out waterholes and springs to the Europeans. |
|---|---|
| 1864 | Land Regulations allowed Aborigines the right to hunt and gather
on unimproved land leases north of the Murchison River. Aborigines employed as shepherds in return for food. Large numbers of stock upset the ecology of the area, which resulted in the reduction or elimination of many plants and animals upon which the Aborigines depended, so clashes began to occur. |
| 1870 | With the food and water supply depleted, the Aboriginal people
began to drift towards the stations where they worked in return
for rations; mainly flour, sugar, tea beef and tobacco. Compulsory education introduced in 1870. However, Aboriginal children on the stations receive no schooling, as the 1871 Education Act allowed for Aboriginal children to be excluded on the slightest pretext. Aboriginal men gradually took over jobs such as fencing, well sinking, windmill maintenance and shearing. |
| 1880 | Aboriginal women are employed as housemaids and general servants.
Missions were paid by the Government to provide schooling for Aboriginal children. However, there were no missions in close proximity to the Murchison at this stage, so Aboriginal children on the stations were still without schooling. |
| 1890 | Gold discovered in the Murchison. Large influx of miners.
Settlements grew up in several areas. Darwin's Theory of Evolution placed Aborigines on the lowest scale of development. This had a major effect on the attitudes of theorists towards the education of these people; it was said to be a waste of time. This attitude was to continue for many decades. Aboriginal children on the stations still don't receive schooling. |
| 1900 | Aboriginal Protection Act placed children under the care of the
Chief Protector of Aborigines until the age of sixteen years.
Aboriginal children were required to attend school but those who
did attempt to attend were again often barred for 'bad hygiene'.
Some 'half-caste' Aboriginal children sent to New Norica. Government to provide medicines, rations and shelter for sick, aged and infirm Aborigines. Aborigines not to leave reserves or towns without permission. Reserves operating at Mullewa, Yalgoo, Cue, Mt Magnet and Meekatharra. Permits required to employ Aborigines. No Aborigines to be employed on or in connection with trading ships. |
| 1910 | All Aboriginal children excluded from the Mullewa School. |
| 1919 | Royal Commission led to the setting up of special hospitals at
Carnarvon, Port Hedland, Broome, Wyndham and Derby. Designed for
venereal disease cases but more often used as dumping grounds for
troublesome natives and became places of misery. Moore River opened up. Correspondence Branch of WA Education Department made available to Murchison stations. Some Aborigines educated this way. |
| 1920 | Teacher's strike led to better conditions. However, Aboriginal
children still excluded if parents of other children objected.
P & C groups had this power. Aboriginal parents did not have
the power to appeal. Protectors active in removing 'half-caste' children from their mothers and sending them to institutions 'to be civilized'. Many children hidden in the bush to escape the Protector and therefore an education was denied to them. Children on missions and in institutions and were punished for using their language. Culture forgotten as 'European ways' were taught. Aborigines continue to provide a workforce for the pastoral industry of the Murchison. Most Murchison Aboriginal children still without an education as the only education available to them was through institutions at Moore River, New Norica or Carrolup Missions. |
| 1930 | Traditional culture being eroded as many Aborigines wishing to
adopt the European lifestyle but without the means of achieving
this goal. Unemployment still not paid to Aborigines because they were supposed to be able to hunt and gather. Royal Commission placed Aborigines in care of Chief Commissioner (ex Protector) until the age of twenty one years. Aborigines needed a permit to enter a town or to travel. Permit required to work. Commissioner still able to take Aborigines into custody and confine them in settlements without trial. Department of Native Affairs made responsible for the education of Aboriginal children but not provided with the necessary resources. Exclusion of Aboriginal children continued but by now groups of concerned people began to push for the Government to take control of the education of Aboriginal children. |
| 1940 | Children sent to institutions and never heard of again. 'Native' Act of 1994 (Citizenship Rights) An Aboriginal person could apply if 'for two years prior to the date they had dissolved tribal and native association' and had served in the military forces or displayed qualities of a 'fit and proper person'. Citizenship rights could be cancelled or suspended on complaint. Introduction of the six o'clock curfew when Aboriginal people had to be off the streets. Mrs Avy Curley led a protest march through the streets of Mt Magnet. Pilbara Strike by Aboriginal station hands. Stations left without labor as the stockmen walked out in protest at low wages. Pallottine Mission at Tardun opened for Aboriginal students in 1946. |
| 1950 | Closure of some Government institutions and Aboriginal children
given greater access to State schools but most of these failed to
meet the needs of the Aboriginal children. Attempt to cater for Aboriginal children through the publication of the 'Bush Books' series. Discrimination through other textbooks continued. |
| 1954 | The last Aboriginal child was excluded from school on 'health and
hygiene rules'. This occurred at Watheroo. Karalundi Mission opened north (60km) of Meekatharra in 1954. Aboriginal children on the stations receive no schooling unless sent to missions. Wiluna Mission opened. Gradual drift from stations to towns by Aboriginal people as employment on stations becomes harder to find. Aboriginal children have access to State schools. School of the Air commenced in the Murchison but this was not used by Aboriginal children. |
| 1960 | Yalgoo and Cue government Hostels for Aboriginal students opened
in 1961. Drift to towns accelerated as station women brought their children to towns to be educated. Menfolk still moved between stations seeking work. Still large Aboriginal communities on some stations. Most Aboriginal children on stations sent to missions for their education. Education Department appointed teachers to the missions for their education. Social Services Benefits now paid. The cost of sending Aboriginal children away for education now met so it was possible for all Aboriginal children to receive an education. |
| 1967 | The Commonwealth Government was given control of Aboriginal affairs as a result of a national referendum. Aborigines allowed to vote in Federal Elections but not the state. |
| 1970 | Whitlam came to power and Aborigines were given full rights. Queensland Van Leer Programme introduced into some schools in an attempt to cater for Aboriginal children. Not really successful in WA due mainly to lack of inservice. The last Aboriginal Law meeting in the Murchison was said to have taken place at this time, however, Law meetings in other regions are still available to Murchison Aborigines. |
| 1971 | Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority set up to provide for
consultation with the Aboriginal community and support the
traditional culture while promoting the economic, social and
cultural advancement of persons of Aboriginal descent in WA. First of Superintendents of Native Education appointed. Increased mechanization and mustering with motorbikes and aeroplanes displaced Aboriginal stockman. Self-determination grew from the desire of Aboriginal people to choose their own destiny. Aboriginal communities developed programmes with the Government providing financial, technical, social and economic support. |
| 1980 | A downturn in the Pastoral industry generally limited employment and the remainder of the Aborigines still on the stations at this stage moved to town. |
| 1984 | One hundred Aboriginal Education Workers were employed in schools
throughout the state. West Australian Aboriginal Education Consultative Group set up in June 1984. Aboriginal community schools set up in several regions of the state. Pia Reserve vacated by Boolardy Pastoral Co., and returned to the original purpose, that of an Aboriginal reserve, as gazetted in 1895. Programmes to revitalize and develop traditional skills for younger Aborigines operational in some areas. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy Task Force set up, completed 1990. Language Centres set up in some regions to train Aboriginal community members to record and teach their own language in schools. |
| 1988 | Yanma Yanma Aboriginal Women's Group in Geraldton was established. |
| 1990 | The Department of Aboriginal Affairs to hand over funding for
Aboriginal projects to each regional body. Aboriginal Studies in schools commence for all students by 1995. Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Aboriginal Development Authority disbanded. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission formed. Regional Councils elected in each region. National Aboriginal Education policy adopted by Commonwealth, endorsed by each state. Yamatji Language Centre opened in Geraldton. Linguist employed to record local languages. Work begun on Wajarri language. Aboriginal Educational Operational Plan created by WA Ministry of Education. Aboriginal Student Support and Parent Awareness program begins. Aboriginal parents involved in decision-making groups at local schools. |
| 1991 | Western Australian Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
reformed. District-wide ASSPA Conferences held. |
| 1992 | Wajarri word list published by Yamatji Language Centre. Official opening of Edith Cowan Off-Campus university in Geraldton. |
| 1995 | Aboriginal Affairs Department Regional office first regional
office to be based in Geraldton (outside the Metro area). Commission of Elders formed as part of the Aboriginal Affairs Department in regional centres. Local Aboriginal newspaper established, 'Yamaji News'. |
| 1996 | Official opening of the Geraldton ATSIC Regional Office named
after Leedham Cameron, who was well known as a local activists
for Aboriginal people. First pilot site for the project to Address the Cycle of Aboriginal Offending. Wila Gutharra Aboriginal Corporation CDEP established. |
| 1997 | Bundiyarra Community Aboriginal Corporation new building completed. |
| 1998 | Development of the Mid West Aboriginal Education Advisory Council
to the District Director. Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation official opening of the new building. Official opening of the Geraldton Aboriginal Education Centre. Education Department of Western Australia. |
| 1999 | Official opening of the Edith Cowan University Regional Centre
(second time) through the Aboriginal Reference Group - Education
portfolio. Marra Aboriginal Corporation established, bringing together artists from the Mid West area. |