Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1926-01-01 - 1972-06-16 (Creation)
Level of description
Medium
Format
Status
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Name of creator
Administrative history
In 1936, following the recommendation of the Moseley Royal Commission and the subsequent amendment of the Aborigines Act 1905, functions of the Aborigines Department were considerably increased and its name was at the same time changed to that of the Department of Native Affairs.
In 1947, the portfolio of the Minister for Native Affairs was created and a year later the Bateman Survey recommended drastic changes in the organisation of the department. These changes were duly carried out in the following year.
In 1954, the name of the department was changed to the Department of Native Welfare and its duties and functions were laid down by the Native Administration Act of that year.
Name of creator
Administrative history
Repository
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
In 1926, a new Aborigines Department was created to administer Aboriginal affairs. This responsibility had been split across two departments - the Department of the North West and the Department of Fisheries - between the years 1920 and 1926.
This series comprises records that were created by the Aborigines Department and its successor agencies - the Department of Native Welfare and the Department of Native Affairs - up until 1972 when welfare functions, and their associated files, were transferred to the newly created Department for Community Welfare. .
This record series covers a wide range of matters which the department/s were responsible for administering.
A number of "personal" files are also included. (The term "personal" file is a slight misnomer as these files invariably contain limited correspondence regarding the person stated. The Department of Community Development holds a fuller series of personal files relating to Aboriginal people. These files were created by the various departments responsible for Aboriginal welfare and were transferred to the Department for Community Welfare in 1972).
(Files in this Record Series include records that were previously listed at the State Records Office at references: AN1/7, Accession 993; AN 1/16, Accession 1724; AN 1/17, Accession 1725, AN 1/25, Accession 1733). The files in Consignment 7198 in this series are microfilmed copies only. The original files were approved for destruction following microfilming in 1973.