1823
Mission schools
From 1823, missions were established by churches
and were supported by individual Christians and missionary
societies. The government agreed to the establishment of the
missions because they knew that the conversion of Aborigines
to Christianity would benefit non-Aboriginal society. Conversion
to Christianity meant that Aborigines would be taught to wear
clothes, to pray, to work in non-Aboriginal industry, to be
civilised, and therefore be useful to non-Aboriginal society.
The missions not only saved the government money, they also
ensured that the Aboriginal children received a rudimentary
education that would socialise them into the non-Aboriginal
culture. Schools were important because they were the socialising
agents, and the children were expected to attend these schools.
|
|
At this time, the Aboriginal people were being pushed off
their traditional lands, their food supplies were being
depleted and their ceremonies interrupted. In some cases,
the missions offered a safe haven for them and their children,
so they began to settle onto them.
These missions survived until the early 1900's before they
were closed by the mission societies and taken over by the
Board for the Protection of Aborigines as reserves until
they were revoked or as in the case of Lake Tyers and Framlingham,
handed over to Aboriginal Trust's.
|
A Map of Language Groups. Click here
to view the full map. Warning 100K + |
1836
Yarra Mission School in Wurundjeri country
"An early example of the paternalistic approach to Victorian
Aborigines was George Langhorne's mission and school on the Yarra."
(AAL: 1985) In 1836, Governor Gipps appointed George Langhorne,
a missionary, to establish the Yarra Mission School on 900 acres,
at the site of the present Royal Botanic gardens in Melbourne.
Langhorne wanted to bring Koories together, house them in permanent
houses and give them a British education. The school only lasted
for three years, and in March 1839, it was closed. The Yarra Mission
finished because of the lack of financial support from the government
and because of opposition from the Aboriginal community for the
school who saw it as a threat to their cultural way of life.
1838
The Protectorate
In
1838 George Robinson was appointed as the Chief Protector of the
Aboriginal Protectorate in Victoria. He was given the task of
looking after the Aboriginal population, and representing their
needs to the colonial government. Robinson appointed four assistants,
James Dredge (who was later replaced by William Le-Souef), William
Thomas, Edward Parker, and Captain Sievewright who were supposed
to go out to the Aboriginal camps and learn about them. However,
it proved to be too difficult for the Protectors to go into the
areas where the different Aboriginal clans lived because the clan
groups moved constantly. As a result, in 1839, Robinson recommended
the forming of Aboriginal stations. If Aborigines were to obtain
food and blankets, they had to come to the stations to do so.
At the same time, Robinson saw that the only way of changing the
culture of the Aboriginal people was by 'educating' the children.
His Report of 1839 stated: "Our chief hope is now decidedly with
the children; and the complete success as far as regards their
education would be before us, if it were possible to remove them
from the influence of their parents."(Board for the Protection
of Aborigines)
The protectorate did not succeed because the Aborigines did not
want to 'settle' on clan lands that didn't belong to them. Their
land was important to them and they wanted to continue living
on their land in the way that they had for thousands of years.
They had a system of beliefs that went back thousands of years,
and they systematically resisted all efforts by non-Aborigines
to change those beliefs and culture for them and their children.
1845
Merri Creek Aboriginal School in Wurundjeri country
Despite
the failure of the Yarra Mission school, another attempt was made
to 'educate' the Wurundjeri children when the Merri Creek school
was opened at Yarra Bend, Northcote in 1845. Edward Peacock taught
20 students from the Woi wurrung people, until 1847. The lack
of numbers of children attending the school forced its closure
in 1851. Once again, the Aboriginal people had shown that they
recognised the government efforts to change their children. They
did not want their children being exposed to a system that denigrated
their culture and tried to take away their identity.
1859
The Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines
During
the 1800's there was intense conflict and the resistance by Aboriginal
nations throughout Victoria who continued to fight for their lands.
The non-Aboriginal 'settlers' were under intense pressure to get
off the land of the Aboriginal people, and, a Select Committee
was undertaken 'to inquire on the present conditions of Aborigines'
from November 1858 to January 1859. The government decided that
the solution was to isolate the Aboriginal people from the white
community. The Select Committee also recommended that the Central
Board for the Protection of Aborigines be established in Victoria
"to control government expenditure on Aborigines, establish reserves
for Aboriginal people, appoint managers to control them, and generally
to administer the affairs of these Aboriginal reserves." (Broome,
1982: 71) The Board's policy was that all Aborigines should live
on the reserves. The Reserve schools were established to ensure
the continued socialisation of Aboriginal children into the non-Aboriginal
culture. In some cases, the Central Board for the Protection of
Aborigines took over the missions when the Churches could no longer
afford to manage them. The 1886 Aborigines Protection Act, (which
was later known as the half-caste act because it defined Aboriginal
people according to percentage of Aboriginal blood they were considered
to have), stated that young 'half-caste' Aborigines were not allowed
to remain on the reserves, and as a result of this Act, families
began to leave the reserves. Most of the reserves were closed
by 1910.
1859-1904
Ebenezer Mission Station in Wotjoboluk and Wergaia country
On January 10th, 1859, work on Ebenezer Mission station,
situated near Dimboola, began. The school was opened on the 17th
of January, with one pupil. Two other boys joined the school the
next day. Sixty people were at the Mission station by the end
of March. However, it was obvious that the Aboriginal people had
no intention of staying there permanently because "… this
(church) service was followed by a corroboree, after which all
the Aborigines departed leaving the missionaries at a loss as
to what to do." (Caldere & Goff: 1991) It was not until the
middle of April, that the three pupils came back to the school.
Despite these beginnings, with circumstances beyond their control,
the Wotjobaluk and Wergaia from the area began to settle on the
station and the 1901 report to the Board states that 40 Wotjobaluk
and Wergaia were registered as permanent residents. The schoolteacher,
Miss Isabel Tyre taught 30 children. In 1904, the mission was
closed and the Moravian Mission Board wrote to the Board for the
Protection of Aborigines, thanking them for their support and
asking the government to make a permanent reserve of the burial
land because it had five of their missionaries buried there. The
Lake Hindmarsh Land Act (1904) revoked the Reserve and the land
was made available for selection, however, the cemetery was made
a Permanent Reserve.
1860-1950
Coranderrk Station in Wurundjeri country
Coranderrk Station was established in 1860 with 4,850 acres of
land being set aside by the government. The site for Coranderrk
was selected by the local Aboriginal clan groups, the Wurundjeri,
Taungerong and Bunorong people who built the reserve within a
few months, constructing their own huts, school and dormitories
for the Aboriginal children from all over the colony. They grew
their own vegetables and cash crops, arrowroot and hops. Through
the hard work of the Aboriginal people, Coranderrk Station was
renowned for its farming produce and became the model for all
future stations. During the 1870's the Board for the Protection
of Aborigines placed Aboriginal people from all over Victoria
at Coranderrk Station.
In 1924 it was closed as a staffed station. Nine Aboriginal people
remained, with the Police Constable at Healesville as their local
guardian. The rest were sent to Lake Tyers Reserve. The area was
gradually given away over the years until it was revoked. In 1948,
the Coranderrk Land Bill released the station for private purchase.
In 1998, land at Coranderrk was purchased by the Indigenous Land
Corporation and returned to Aboriginal people.
1861-2001
Lake Tyers Mission in Gunai/Kurnai Country
The Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines approved the
original mission of 2,000 acres for Lake Tyers in 1861. It consisted
of a manager's residence, church, school and huts. The mission
attracted a number of Aboriginal people and as such was seen by
the Mission Societies as successful and flourishing until 1908,
when it was taken over by the Board for the protection of Aborigines
as a Government station. The Board was convinced that Victorian
Aborigines were dying out and so it began to close all the reserves
around Victoria, one by one. They decided to send the remaining
people to Lake Tyers to live out the rest of their days, and as
a result, the people who ended up at Lake Tyers were from different
clan groups around Victoria.
In the 1960's, the Aborigines Welfare Board attempted to close
Lake Tyers as a reserve, however the residents wanted to retain
it. The Aborigines Advancement League, led by Pastor Doug Nichols,
the Field Officer, fought for eight years to retain Lake Tyers
Reserve. The Aboriginal Amendment Act 1965 changed the status
of Lake Tyers from temporary to permanent. In 1971, the fight
was finally won, when freehold title to Lake Tyers was given to
the Lake Tyers Trust under the Aboriginal Lands Act of 1970. Today,
Lake Tyers is also known as Bung Yarnda.
1862-1908
Ramahyuck Mission Station School in Gunnai/Kurnai country
Ramahyuck Mission began in 1862 by the Reverend F.A. Hagenauer
on a site near Maffra. The farmers opposed the mission, so it
was moved to the Avon River, near Lake Wellington. On the 1st
April 1869, the Education Department classified Ramahyuk school
as half-time Rural School No. 12 and appointed Reverend Kramer
as the teacher.
In 1872, there were 19 children at the school. In 1873, the school
had gained 100% of marks. In 1877, Ramahyuck Mission Station was
placed at the head of the list for 'presenting the most successful
results'.
On 13 May 1901, the Department of Education closed the Ramahyuck
State School, and the remaining children were told to attend the
nearby, Perry Bridge school. However, the people protested about
their children having to attend the Perry Bridge school, and the
Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines appointed a teacher
to teach at Ramahyuck school. The school continued under the Board
until 1908 when the Mission closed.
1866-1970
Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve in Kirrae-Wurrung country
Framlingham reserve began in 1866, but when it faltered due to
lack of funds, the Mission Committee transferred the reserve and
staff to the Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines, after
which Framlingham continued as a Government funded and staffed
station.
In 1867, an attempt was made to relocate the Framlingham Aborigines
to the station at Lake Condah. Sixty people from Framlingham refused
to go because they belonged to different clan groups. After pleas
and deputations to the Chief Secretary in Melbourne, the station
was re-opened in 1869. For twenty-one years, this situation continued
until 1890, from which time, Framlingham continued as a reserve.
During this time, it was not staffed.
There were constant threats from the Central Welfare Board to
close the station and send the people to Lake Tyers. The reserve
was closed, but reopened in 1930. In January 1967, Framlingham
was given permanent reserve status. In 1971, the land was granted
to the Gunditjmara people at Framlingham under the Aboriginal
Land Act 1970.
1870-1948
Lake Condah Mission Station School in Gunditjmara country
In 1870, the Lake Condah Mission Station School for primary school
pupils was established. In 1874, there were 30 children attending
school, most of who could read and write. In July 1878, there
were 24 children. A report to the Board stated that the children
were making good progress.
In 1887, the school was progressing very well and some of the
students included non-Koorie children from farms in the area.
In 1905, the school became half time because of the lack of numbers,
however, in 1906, the school had become full time again. Even
though the Mission Station closed in 1918, being the only school
in the district, the Condah school remained open, and local children
attended until 1948 when it was closed.
1874-2001
Maloga Mission-Cummeragunga Reserve in Moira, Yorta Yorta and
Ulupna country
In 1874, Maloga Mission was established by Daniel and Janet Mathews
"to feed, clothe and teach as though they were our own children"
the Aboriginal children from the Barmah area in Victoria.
This is an extract of a Letter to the Editor, Bendigo Advertiser,
21ST August, 1874, sent by Daniel Mathews:
Sir, After nine years of patient waiting
and constant hope, we have succeeded in making a start with
our Maloga Aboriginal School, and I am thankful to say we now
have ten blacks-all children…receiving daily instruction
from us...
We have a nice schoolroom erected,
and sleeping accommodation for 40-50 children...They get instruction
in reading, writing and arithmetic and singing...
I am,
Yours sincerely,
DANIEL MATHEWS.
|
In 1883, Cummeragunga Reserve was established in New South
Wales, on the other side of the river to Barmah, and in
1888, the people were moved from Maloga Mission to the new
site, six kilometres away. In 1939, the people walked off
the mission in protest of the way they were treated by the
Manager.
|
 |
| In 1953, Cummeragunga was closed as a station
and reduced to reserve status. In 1965, the company, Cummeragunga
Pty Ltd was registered. Today, many Koorie families reside
on Cummeragunga. However, the children attend primary school
at either Moama in New South Wales, or at Picola in Victoria
and secondary school in Echuca or Nathalia. |
