Discovering Our Past

Sample Aboriginal Records

On This Page

• Daisy Bates' Letter
• Railway Pass Memo
• Issuing Rations at a Depot
• Surrendered Crown Leases - Aboriginal Leases

Daisy Bates' Letter

Daisy Bates lived among the Aboriginal people from 1913, for a period of thirty years. She spent many years at the railway town of Ooldea, which is located in the north-west of South Australia. Bates acted as a voluntary liaison officer between the Aboriginal communities and government authorities.

The letter reads:

Mrs May Vivienne, 147 North Terrace, Adelaide, called to see the Hon. The Commissioner of Public Works twice, and preferred a request for an Annual pass (Railway) for Mrs Daisy M Bates, Ooldea, between Ooldea and Adelaide. Mrs Vivienne has communicated with the Commonwealth Authorities and has been referred to the State Government. If the Government cannot grant Mrs Bates a Pass over the Commonwealth Line Mrs Vivienne requests that a pass be given Mrs Bates between Port Augusta and Adelaide.

Mrs Vivienne would particularly like to see the Hon. The Commissioner.

SECRETARY
10-3-20

Railway Pass Memo

The memo reads:

Mrs Bates has not previously been granted a Railway pass to Ooldea but an amount of £7-12-4 has been paid by the Aborigines Department for freight on goods for Mrs Bates consigned from Adelaide.

Issuing Rations at a Depot

Ref: GRG 52/45/2/78 Department of Aboriginal Affairs

On the back of the photograph is a note written 18/3/1988 by Phillip Jones of the South Australian Museum. The note indicates the photograph was taken by Chris P. Scott in 1908 at Oodnadatta in the far north of South Australia.

Up until the middle of the 1900s depots were established in a number of remote areas in South Australia to supply rations to Aboriginal people. The rations were largely distributed by pastoral station managers or by the police.

Depots were often strategically located as a means of controlling the movements of the nomadic Aboriginal people. They were increasingly forced away from their traditional lands, which were being opened up as pastoral properties.

Depots and drought conditions contributed to the Aboriginal people becoming increasingly reliant upon rations. Whilst rations helped to supplement the at times scarce, traditional food sources, the lack of consistent rations often led to improper diet and poor health. Depots, while on the one hand necessary, created a static lifestyle with unhygienic conditions.

Surrendered Crown Leases - Aboriginal Leases

This is an official document of indenture between the Crown and the lessee.

All leases from this series (GRS 3702/1) relate to the leasing of Crown Land to Aboriginal people.