Protector of Aborigines


The Australian colonies in the nineteenth century created offices involved in managing the affairs of Indigenous people in their jurisdictions.
The role of Protector of Aborigines was first established in South Australia in 1836. The role became established in other parts of Australia pursuant to a recommendation contained in the Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Aboriginal Tribes, of the UK's Parliamentary Select Committee on Aboriginal Tribes. On 31 January 1838, Lord Glenelg, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies sent Governor Gipps of NSW the report. The report recommended that protectors of Aborigines should be engaged. They would be required to learn the Aboriginal language and their duties would be to watch over the rights of Indigenous Australians, guard against encroachment on their property and to protect them from acts of cruelty, oppression and injustice.
In many colonial, state, territory and similar jurisdictions a chief protector was appointed.
Matthew Moorhouse became the first non-interim Protector of Aborigines in South Australia in 1839. In 1841 he led volunteers who committed the Rufus River massacre, which slaughtered 30 to 40 Aboriginal people. From the 1890s, the role often included social control up to the point of controlling whom individuals were able to marry and where they lived and managing their financial affairs, through legislation like the Half-Caste Act.
A. O. Neville was a notable Chief Protector of Aborigines and later Commissioner of Native Affairs in Western Australia, and was in office from 1915 to 1940. By 1969 all states and territories had repealed the legislation allowing for the removal of Aboriginal children under the policy of protection.

Protectors of Aborigines

Protectors of Aborigines around Australia included the following:

New South Wales, FCT/ACT and Jervis Bay

The non-government NSW Aborigines Protection Association was established in February 1880, which ran a number of mission stations with the support of the government.
On 29 December 1880, George Thornton was appointed the first NSW Protector of Aborigines, after agitation for such an appointment by the Protection Association. Measures similar to those overseen by chief protectors in other states had previously occurred, usually being organised by either the Chief Secretary 's department, or by the police.
  • George Thornton, Protector of Aborigines, 1880–1883
The Aborigines Protection Board was established to manage reserves and the welfare of the estimated 9000 Aboriginal people living in New South Wales on 2 June 1883 in the wake of WA's Fairburn Report. It was part of the Department of Police, and apart from its first year, was chaired by the Inspector-General of Police. The Protection Association faded away by the end of the 1890s.
  • George Thornton, Chairman of the Aborigines Protection Board, 1883
  • Edmund Fosbery, Chairman of the Aborigines Protection Board, c. 1884–1904
  • Thomas Garvin, Chairman of the Aborigines Protection Board, 1904–1910
The Aboriginal Protection Act 1909 was enacted in NSW on 1 June 1910. This reconstituted the board. It now reported to the colonial secretary, and had its purpose defined as being "to exercise a general supervision and care over all matters affecting the interest and welfare of Aborigines, and to protect them against injustice, imposition and fraud". It also allowed them to remove children that were deemed to be neglected, and this was very often the case. A chairman continued to be appointed; however, the administrative power was now vested in a dedicated secretary. This regulatory environment remained in the Federal Capital Territory after it was created in 1911, and in the Jervis Bay Territory after its creation in 1915. The Aborigines Protection Amending Act 1915 greatly reduced the requirements needed for Aboriginal children to be removed. The Aborigines Protection Act 1936 extended the powers of the board further, giving them complete control of Aborigines resident in NSW.
  • Arthur Charles Pettitt, Secretary of the Board for the Protection of Aborigines, 1909–1916
  • LF Ward, Relieving Secretary of the Board for the Protection of Aborigines, c. 1916–c. 1919
  • Arthur Charles Pettitt, Secretary of the Board for the Protection of Aborigines, 1919–1940
The Aborigines Protection Act 1940 created the Aborigines Welfare Board in 1940, following two government reviews immediately prior. ACT/JBT regulation was separated from NSW between the enacting of the Aborigines Welfare Ordinance 1954 and the Aborigines Welfare Repeal Ordinance 1965; however the regulating body remained the NSW Board.
  • Alfred William George Lipscombe, Superintendent of Aborigines Welfare, 1940–1953
  • Maurice Henry Saxby, Superintendent of Aborigines Welfare, 1953–1958
  • Harold John Green, Superintendent of Aborigines Welfare, 1959–1969
The Aborigines Welfare Board become the Aborigines Welfare Directorate in 1969 through the Aborigines Act 1969.
  • Ian Mitchell, Director of Aboriginal Welfare, 1969–1975
The Directorate was abolished on 1 July 1975, with most of its functions being transferred to the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs. The remaining state responsibilities were then transferred to the new Aboriginal Services Branch which operated within the Department of Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs.

Port Phillip and Victoria

The first European charged with protecting the Indigenous people of NSW's semi-autonomous Port Phillip District was George Langhorne. He was employed by the district's superintendent as "Missionary" in 1837. He built a mission village at the Aboriginal camp on the Yarra where the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria now are.
  • George Langhorne, Missionary, 1837–1839
Replacing this effort, the Port Phillip Protectorate was established in 1839, overseen by a Chief Protector. Four full-time Assistant Protectors were allocated to a quarter of the district. In 1843, the Port Phillip District was greatly expanded. The Protectorate operated until 1849, when a Select Committee recommended its closure.
  • George Augustus Robinson, Chief Protector, 1839–1849
  • *James Dredge, Assistant Protector in the Goulburn or Northeast District, 1839–1840
  • *Charles Sievwright, Assistant Protector in the Geelong or Western District, 1838–1842
  • *Edward Stone Parker, Assistant Protector in the Mt Macedon or Northwest District, 1839–1849
  • *William Thomas, 1837–1839; Assistant Protector in the Central Protectorate District of Westernport, 1839–1849
  • *William Le Souëf, Assistant Protector in the Goulburn or Northeast District, 1840-1844
At the end of the Protectorate, Assistant Protector William Thomas was made "Guardian of Aborigines" starting 1 January 1850, predominantly acting in the Greater Melbourne area. The Port Phillip District became the Colony of Victoria in 1851. His position was a hands-on role that continued after a new administrative structure for protection was created.
  • William Thomas, Guardian of Aborigines, 1850–c. 1867
The Central Board appointed to Watch Over the Interests of the Aborigines was established in 1860.. It was headed by a President, who was responsible for its work. It appointed Superintendents in the colony's Aboriginal stations and "Honorary Correspondents" in other areas who worked with the Aborigines being watched over.
This board was replaced by a firmly-named Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines in 1869. This act made Victoria the first colony to enact comprehensive regulations on the lives of Aborigines. The Secretary now not only did the bulk of administrative work of the board, but was credited with making proclamations in public notices. The Chairman and the other Board members directed policy. The General Inspector inspected the Superintendents and their stations. The 1869 Act authorised the removal of neglected Aboriginal children from their families. From the late 1870s, it became customary for the Colonial Secretary to be the Chairman. By the 1880s, the Honorary Correspondents had been replaced by "Guardians" operating from "depots".
Prompted by the contested situation at Coranderrk, the Aboriginal Protection Act 1886 gave the board extensive new powers over the lives of Aboriginal people, including regulation of residence, employment and marriage. It was used to release the government station-living "half-castes" aged under 35 into the community. From about 1898, all "half-caste" children on the stations, after leaving school, were given vocational training and sent out to work by the government. The Aborigines Act 1910 re-affirmed that the board had the power to apply all the measures in the 1886 act to "half-castes". The board reduced its administrative function from 1912, it not publishing another annual report until 1922; and it didn't meet at all between 1914 and 1916.
The Aborigines Act 1915 removed most Aboriginal people from the bounds of the board's regulation by removing their Aboriginal status for the purposes of the act. In 1916, the state's Chief Secretary Alexander Peacock, asserted his authority as Chairman, and convened the board for the first time in two years. He gave renewed responsibility of the organisation to its Vice-Chairman, who did so under his state government title of Under-Secretary. By 1920, the role of "Secretary" had again become the board's face to the public, reporting to a relatively hands-off Vice-Chairman. In 1917 it was decided to close all the stations except that in Lake Tyers, and to encourage all the station dwellers to move there. Most had moved by 1922. Almost all of the Depots had closed by this point. The Aborigines Act 1928 allowed more children and sick adults to live on the stations. In the 1930s, a number of Aboriginal people sought refuge at Framlingham. By the 1940s most people of Aboriginal ancestry were considered by the board to be "legally white", and the board generally only had power over Aboriginal people living at Lake Tyers.
General Inspectors and Secretaries:
  • William Thomas, Guardian of Aborigines, 1860–1861
  • John Green, General Inspector, 1861–1875
  • Robert Brough Smyth, Secretary, 1866– c. 1876
  • Christian Splidt Ogilvie, General Inspector, 1875; General Superintendent, 1875–1877
  • Captain Andrew Mathew Adolph Page, General Inspector and Secretary, 1877–1890
  • Friedrich Hagenauer, Acting General Inspector and Secretary, 1889–1890; General Inspector and Secretary, 1890–1906
  • William J Ditchburn, Acting Secretary, 1906–1912; Secretary 1912–1917
  • Alfred Ernest Parker, Secretary, c. 1918– c. 1936
Presidents and Vice-Chairmen:
  • Richard Heales, President of the Central Board appointed to Watch Over the Interests of the Aborigines, 1860–1864
  • James MacBain, President of the Central Board appointed to Watch Over the Interests of the Aborigines, 1864–1869
  • Theodotus John Sumner, Vice-Chairman of the Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines, 1869– c.1872
  • John Mackenzie, Vice-Chairman, c. 1872– c.1875
  • William Macredie, Vice-Chairman, c.1875– c.1876
  • Frederick Race Godfrey, Vice-Chairman, c.1876– c.1878
  • Edward Curr, Vice-Chairman, c.1878– c.1879
  • Henry Jennings, Vice-Chairman, c.1879– c.1880
  • Albert Le Souëf, Vice-Chairman, c.1880– c.1882
  • William Anderson, Vice-Chairman, c.1882– c.1884
  • Charles Officer, Vice-Chairman, c.1884– c.1885
  • Ewen Cameron, Vice-Chairman, c.1885– c.1887
  • Alexander Morrison, Vice-Chairman, c.1887– c.1890
  • Charles Officer, Vice-Chairman, c.1890– c.1896
  • Alexander Morrison, Vice-Chairman, c.1896– c.1897
  • Albert Le Souëf, Vice-Chairman, c.1897– c.1900
  • Donald McLeod, Vice-Chairman, c.1900– c.1901
  • Charles Officer, Vice-Chairman, c.1901– c.1904
  • Frederick Race Godfrey, Vice-Chairman, c.1904– c.1906
  • HP Keoh, Vice-Chairman, c.1906– c.1910
  • William Alfred Callaway, Vice-Chairman, c.1910–?
  • CS MacPherson, Vice-Chairman, ?– c.1925
  • William Philip Heathershaw, Vice-Chairman, c.1925–?
The Child Welfare Act 1954 was used by police to remove Aboriginal children, without the involvement of the board. In response to dissatisfaction with the shanty towns on the edges of country towns, Charles McLean was commissioned by the government to review the Aboriginal people of the state in 1955. The resulting Aborigines Act 1957 replaced the existing Board with the Aborigines Welfare Board. It was empowered to improve the welfare of all the Aborigines of the state. The board was headed by a chairman, and had a superintendent as its executive officer. The act also removed the alcohol consumption ban. The Aborigines Act 1958 made minor changes. In 1958, the board established the Rumbalara settlement near Mooroopna to provide transitional housing for people living in camps. In 1960, it opened the similar Manatunga settlement near Robinvale..
After severe criticism, in June 1964 the board lost its executive powers, and became an advisory body to the state government; though it still continued to administer Aboriginal affairs. In June 1965, the board was transferred from the Chief Secretary's Department to the Housing Department, with the Housing Minister gaining the title "Minister in Charge of Aboriginal Welfare". At this time, the Minister was given a similar role to that previously held by the Chairman. The board was now largely devoted to improving Aboriginal housing. A dedicated Minister was appointed in 1967. The board now had an increased focus on education, health and other welfare matters.
  • Murray Porter, Chairman, 1956–1961
  • Sir John Vincent Dillion, Chairman, 1961
  • Edward Meagher, Chairman, 1961–1964
  • Arthur Rylah, Chairman, 1964–1965
  • James Henry Davey, Chairman, 1965– c. 1968
  • Lindsay Thompson, Minister in Charge of Aboriginal Welfare, 1965–1967
  • Edward Meagher, Minister in Charge of Aboriginal Welfare, 1967–1968
  • Phillip Eric Felton, Superintendent
The passing of the Aboriginal Affairs Act 1967 meant that in 1968, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs was established. Approximately 40% of its staff were Aboriginal. In the late 1960s, the residents of Manatunga and then Rumbalara requested that they be transitioned to mainstream housing, and they were. The Aboriginals Land Act 1970 transferred the remaining land at Lake Tyers and Framlingham to Aboriginal trust ownership in 1971.
  • Edward Meagher, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, 1968–1972
  • Reginald Maurice Worthy, Director of Aboriginal Affairs, 1968–1974
  • Pat Dickie, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, 1972–1975
In January 1975, the responsibility for Aboriginal affairs passed to the federal government and general Victorian agencies.