Aboriginal resources: chronology of significant events

This chronology gives an overview of significant events which have happened in Australia from 1788 to 1998, concentrating on the relations between Aboriginal people and the post-1788 immigrants.

Other events are shown in order to give an historical context. Some of these events generated many records whereas other records are the result of legislative changes. Please note that all institutions and legislation are from New South Wales, unless otherwise noted.

Chronology

Pre-1788

Aboriginal people lived in Australia for many tens of thousands of years in a large number of tribal and language groupings. It has been estimated that there were about 600 Aboriginal tribes in Australia in 1788.

1788

Arrival of the First Fleet and first conflict between the newcomers and the original inhabitants

1788-1802

Pemulwuy leads a guerilla war against the British settlement

1815

Governor Macquarie founds the Native Institution as a school for Aboriginal children of both sexes

1816

Governor Macquarie institutes an annual meeting of tribes with feasting and the distribution of blankets

1824

First Legislative Council of New South Wales is constituted

1826

Missionary activity is subsidised. London Missionary Society and the Reverend L. E. Threlkeld at Lake Macquarie

1834

John Batman signs a treaty with the Aboriginal people of Port Phillip. The Government disallows the treaty on the grounds that the land belonged to the Crown

1838

Fiftieth Anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet

Bill for the Protection of Aborigines is drafted

Port Phillip Aborigines Protectorate is instituted

Waterloo Creek Massacre

Myall Creek Massacre

1839

An Act to allow the Aboriginal Natives of New South Wales to be received as competent Witnesses in Criminal Cases (30¼ Vic. No. 16)

1840

An Act to prohibit the Aboriginal Natives of New South Wales from having Fire Arms or Ammunition in their possession without the permission of a Magistrate (4¼ Vic. No. 8)

1842

Native Police is formed

1843

The Legislative Council is reconstituted to include elected members

1849

Port Phillip Aborigines Protectorate is abolished

1856

Responsible Government is instituted in New South Wales with the establishment of the elected Legislative Assembly

1858

Secret ballot is introduced in New South Wales

1867

An Act to prohibit the supply of Intoxicating Liquors to the Aboriginal Natives of New South Wales (31¼ Vic. No. 16)

1880

Association for the Protection of Aborigines is formed

1881

State Children's Relief Board is established giving the Government specific powers over children of any race

Government appoints a Protector of Aborigines (George Thornton MLC)

1883

Board for the Protection of Aborigines is created by the Government

1892

Aborigines Protection Association turns over the management of the Mission Stations to the Board (Cumeragunja, Warangesda, Maloga and Brewarrina)

1893

A Girls' Dormitory is set up at Warangesda Station

1901

Commonwealth of Australia is established

1902

Women in New South Wales are granted the right to vote (excluding Aboriginal women)

1909

Aborigines Protection Act 1909 (No. 25) reconstitutes the Aborigines Protection Board. The Inspector-General of Police is now the Chairman.

1911

Cootamundra Girls' Home opens

1914

Beginning of First World War. Approximately 400 to 500 Aboriginal people serve as enlisted soldiers. Aboriginal children continue to be removed from their families during the period 1914 to 1918, including children whose fathers are overseas at the War.

1915

Aborigines Protection Amending Act 1915 (No. 2) gives the Board the right to assume control of an Aboriginal child

1918

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (No. 27) excludes Aboriginal people from being on the electoral roll or voting

1918

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1918 (No. 7)

1924

Kinchela Boys Home at Kempsey opens

Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association (AAPA) is formed

1927

Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association (AAPA) delivers a petition on Aboriginal concerns to the Premier

1929

Compulsory voting is introduced in New South Wales. Aboriginal people are still excluded from voting under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (No. 27).

1934

Australian Aboriginal League (AAL) is formed

1936

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1936 (No. 32) gives additional wide powers to the Board

1937

Aborigines Progressive Association (APA) is formed

The Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of New South Wales sets up a Select Committee on the Aborigines Protection Board

1938

Sesquicentenary of the arrival of the First Fleet

Day of Mourning and Protest

Committee for Aboriginal Citizens Rights is formed

Australian Abo Call: the voice of the Aborigine, the journal of the Aborigines Progressive Association (APA), is published from April

Public Service Board begins an Inquiry into the Aborigines Protection Board

1939

Beginning of Second World War. An estimated 3000 Aboriginal people and Islanders serve as formally enlisted soldiers, sailors or airmen. Aboriginal children continue to be removed from their families during the period 1939 to 1945, including children whose fathers are overseas at the War.

Cummeragunja Walk Off

1940

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1940 (No. 12) reconstitutes the Aborigines Protection Board as the Aborigines Welfare Board. The Under Secretary of the Colonial Secretary’s Department is now the Chairman.

1941

Commonwealth Government extends child endowment benefits to all Aboriginal people who are not nomadic or supported by the Commonwealth or a State

1943

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1943 (No. 13) provides for the appointment of two Aboriginal people to the Board

1948

Under the Commonwealth Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 (No. 83) all Aborigines are now British subjects and Australian citizens

1951

Commonwealth Government calls a Native Welfare Conference with the States (Victoria and Tasmania do not attend). The Conference endorses the principle of assimilation.

1953

The Senate of the Commonwealth Parliament sets up a Select Committee on Aboriginal Voting Rights

1956

Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship (AAF) is formed

1957

Meeting organised by the Aboriginal Australian Fellowship at Sydney Town Hall launches campaign for a referendum to change the Australian constitution

1958

Victorian Aboriginal Advancement League (VAAL) is formed

1958

Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement (FCAA) is formed

1960

Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship (AAF) calls for full citizenship rights

1962

Commonwealth Electoral Act is amended so that all Aboriginal people may vote

1963

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1963 (No. 7)

1964

Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement (FCAA) changes its name to the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI)

1965

Commonwealth - State Conference of Aboriginal Affairs Ministers endorses Assimilation Policy as national policy

1965

Freedom Rides throughout northern New South Wales

1965

The Parliament of New South Wales sets up a Joint Select Committee on Aborigines Welfare

1967

Commonwealth Referendum (27 May 1967) passes to change the Australian Constitution to remove the impediment to the Commonwealth Government making special laws with respect to Aboriginal people and to remove the impediments to counting Aboriginal people in the Census.

1969

Aborigines Act 1969 (No. 7) abolishes the Aborigines Welfare Board. All Aboriginal children under the care of the Board now become Wards of the State.

1969

Directorate of Aboriginal Welfare is set up in the Department of Child Welfare and Social Welfare

1971

Aboriginal Flag is designed by Luritja artist Harold Thomas and flown for the first time in Adelaide

1971

Commonwealth Government sets up the Ministry for Environment, Aborigines, and the Arts

1971

Neville Bonner becomes the first Aboriginal Member of the Commonwealth Parliament as a Senator from Queensland

1972

Aboriginal Tent Embassy is set up on the lawns in front of Parliament House in Canberra

1972

New Labor Commonwealth Government sets up the first separate Ministry and Department of Aboriginal Affairs

1973

Aborigines (Amendment) Act 1973 (No. 35)

1973

An Aboriginal-elected National Aboriginal Conference is established to advise the Commonwealth Government on Aboriginal affairs

1973

Commonwealth Government announces the Self Determination Policy for Aboriginal affairs

1975

Commonwealth Government takes over the functions of the New South Wales State Directorate of Aboriginal Welfare

1975

Aboriginal Services Branch is created in the Department of Youth and Community Services

1975

Title to Missions and Reserves in New South Wales is handed over to the Aboriginal Lands Trust

1976

Aboriginal Health Unit of the Department of Health is set up

1978

The Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of New South Wales sets up a Select Committee on Aborigines

1980

Link-Up (NSW) - an Aboriginal organisation formed to reunite and support Aboriginal people removed from their families - is established

1981

Aboriginal Advisory Board to the Housing Commission is established

1982

Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (New South Wales) is established

1983

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (No. 42) revokes any dedication or reservation under the Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 or the Western Lands Act 1901 pursuant to transfers of land to an Aboriginal Land Council

1987

Commonwealth Government sets up the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

1988

Bicentenary of the arrival of the First Fleet

Office of Aboriginal Affairs established in the Premier’s Department

1990

Aboriginal Land Rights (Revival of Financial Provision) Act 1990 (No. 32)

1991

Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody reports

1992

“Mabo” decision of the High Court recognises the concept of native title and overturns the doctrine of terra nullius (the notion that Australia was empty and owned by nobody until British settlement)

1993

Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs is re-established. It oversees the Office of Aboriginal Affairs and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.

Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993 (No. 110)

1994

Native Title (New South Wales) Act 1994 (No. 45)

1995

Office of Aboriginal Affairs is abolished and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs is established

Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Act 1995 (No. 39)

National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families commences

1996

“Wik” decision of the High Court - leases granted by the Crown do not extinguish Aboriginal land rights

1997

Bringing Them Home: Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families

National Parks and Wildlife Amendment (Aboriginal Ownership) Act 1996 (No. 142) comes into effect, amending the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983. It establishes a Register of Aboriginal Owners by the Registrar, Aboriginal Land Rights Act.