Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1909-01-01 - 1920-12-31 (Creation)
- 1909-01-01 - 1920-12-31 (Accumulation)
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Name of creator
Administrative history
In 1909, the Aborigines and Fisheries Departments were amalgamated into one agency, the Department of Aborigines and Fisheries. This was partly due to financial constraints and partly due to the expediency of running as one the two departments whose interests lay mainly in the northern part of the State.
After World War I, the Department was abolished and its functions pertaining to Aboriginal affairs south of the 25th parallel, as well as to fisheries throughout the State, were taken over by the Fisheries Department.
Charles Frederick Gale was appointed the second Chief Protector of Aborigines on 1 October 1908. He undertook this position together with that of the Chief Inspector of Fisheries. In 1911, Frederick Aldrich was appointed Chief Inspector of Fisheries and Gale's duties were limited to that of Chief Protector of Aborigines. Gale was dismissed from office in 1915 at an age of 54, ostensibly as an "excess officer" and was vindicated by a Royal Commission appointed to inquire into his dismissal.
Auber Octavius Neville (Secretary of the Immigration Department since 1911) was appointed as Gale's successor on 7 May 1915.
Repository
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This series contains both inward and outward correspondence, filed by subject. File covers vary considerably since a number of files were taken over from other departments (notably the Police Department, the Chief Secretary's Office and the previous Aborigines Department). In these cases, files covers were stamped with the imprint of the Aborigines and Fisheries stamp and a new file number was added within the stamp impression.
The State Records Office created a separate listing for the files with fisheries content in the 1980's (this listing was filed in with other Fisheries Department file lists at AN 108). However, the original provenance of these records has now been re-established. As such, this series covers the whole of consignment 652 which comprises files with both Aborigines and Fisheries content (as well as administrative files without specific Aborigines or Fisheries content).
Subjects the files deal with include missions, lock hospitals, contracts and permits, native cattle stations, exemptions from the Aborigines Act, relief and inspection, as well as matters to do with fisheries and fauna.
(Files in this Record Series were previously listed at the State Records Office at reference: AN 1/4; Accession 652 and AN 108; Accession 652).
Accession 652 available on microfiche.
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Existence and location of originals
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Authorized form of name
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Authorized form of name
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Authorized form of name
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Authorized form of name
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Description control area
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Archivist's note
Copies: These files have been microfilmed. Files marked as open access are available for viewing at the State Records Office Search Room (Consignment 652).